Colombo, 15 July 2026 – The Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka (CGA Sri Lanka) today officially unveiled Team Sri Lanka for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, introducing the national contingent that will proudly represent Sri Lanka at the Games, scheduled to be held from 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.

 

The official unveiling took place at a special press conference held at the Hemasiri Fernando Auditorium, Olympic House, attended by Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. 

Team Sri Lanka will travel to Glasgow with a contingent of 40 athletes, supported by 14 sport-specific team officials. The athlete contingent consists of 27 male and 13 female athletes who will compete across seven sports.

 

Sri Lanka secured qualification in Para Athletics and Weightlifting through the respective international qualification pathways, while athletes competing in Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Artistic Gymnastics and Swimming earned their places through the Commonwealth Games Open Allocation system.

 

The sport-wise breakdown of Team Sri Lanka is as follows:

The wider contingent management comprises Chef de Mission Mr. Niluka Karunaratne OLY, General Team Manager Mr. Mohamed Rifath, two administrative personnel, one Safeguarding Officer, one Press Attaché, and five medical personnel, ensuring comprehensive operational, communications and medical support throughout the Games.

 

The delegation will be led by Chef de Mission (CDM) Mr. Niluka Karunaratne OLY, one of Sri Lanka's most accomplished Olympians and sports administrators. A three-time Olympian and six-time Commonwealth Games representative, he currently serves as the Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission and Chairperson of the Games Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) and the Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka (CGA Sri Lanka). Supporting him is General Team Manager (GTM) Mr. Mohamed Rifath, who brings a distinguished background in rowing and sports administration. A former National Rowing Coach with five years of coaching experience, he currently serves as the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Rowing Federation.

 

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will officially commence with the Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2026, while the Closing Ceremony will take place on 2 August 2026. Team Sri Lanka will begin its campaign on 24 July, competing across seven sports over the course of the Games.

Sri Lanka's campaign will commence with Artistic Gymnastics, Boxing and Swimming, which will be contested from 24 to 28 July, 24 July to 1 August, and 24 to 29 July, respectively. Weightlifting will follow from 26 to 30 July, while Athletics and Para Athletics will take place from 27 July to 1 August. Team Sri Lanka's final sport will be Judo, with competition scheduled from 31 July to 2 August, concluding on the final day of the Games.

 

Leading Team Sri Lanka at the Opening Ceremony will be Palitha Bandara, who has been named the nation's Flag Bearer. One of Sri Lanka's most accomplished para-athletes, Bandara is a two-time Paralympian, having secured fifth place in the Men's Shot Put F63 at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He also claimed a bronze medal at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, a silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and medals at multiple editions of the Asian Para Games, making him one of Sri Lanka's most decorated para-athletes.

 

Joining him as Baton Bearer will be Janani Dhananjana, one of Sri Lanka's leading young para-athletes. Competing in the 100m, 200m and Long Jump (T47) events, Janani represented Sri Lanka at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where she finished ninth in the Women's Long Jump T47. She is also a silver medallist at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Para Games and represented Sri Lanka at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, further establishing herself among the region's leading para-athletes.

 

The contingent will be captained by Rumesh Tharanga, Sri Lanka's national record holder in the men's javelin throw and one of the country's most accomplished track and field athletes. Rumesh has enjoyed a remarkable rise on the international stage, breaking the Sri Lankan national record on multiple occasions, including his current national record of 92.62 metres, achieved at the 2026 Golden Gala in Rome. The throw was not only a national and meet record, but also the world-leading mark of the 2026 season at the time and propelled him to eighth on the all-time world list. He has since continued his outstanding form with victories at the Golden Spike Ostrava and the Doha Diamond League, and currently holds the World No. 2 ranking in the men's javelin throw, underlining his status as one of the world's elite throwers.

 

Commenting on Team Sri Lanka's participation at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, President of NOC/CGA Sri Lanka, Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, said, "As Team Sri Lanka prepares to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all our athletes and officials. The Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka, together with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has worked tirelessly to provide our team with the support, resources, and expertise needed to perform at their best. We remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence and stand firmly behind our athletes. I am confident that Team Sri Lanka will compete with pride, uphold the true values of sport, and bring honour and glory to our motherland."

 

A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the official Team Sri Lanka Team Attire, designed and sponsored by MAS Holdings, followed by the unveiling of the Opening Ceremony Attire, designed by LOVI Ceylon. The athletes showcased both collections during dedicated attire reveal segments, reflecting a blend of performance, innovation, Sri Lankan identity and craftsmanship.

 

Commenting on the partnership with Team Sri Lanka, Rajitha Jayasuriya, Director – Corporate Affairs at MAS Holdings said, “At MAS, we have always believed that sport has the power to inspire. It teaches resilience, discipline, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of excellence; values that are equally central to MAS as an organisation. Our commitment to Sri Lankan sport therefore goes beyond providing apparel. It is about investing in people, supporting dreams, and helping create opportunities for our athletes to perform with confidence on the world stage.”

 

Commenting on the unveiling of Team Sri Lanka's Opening Ceremony attire, Founder of LOVI Ceylon, Mr. Asanka de Mel, said, "It brings me great joy to see our Sri Lankan athletes wearing LOVI National outfits as they represent our country and its rich craft heritage on the international stage. Heartfelt thanks to my team and the NOC/CGA Sri Lanka team for their tireless work in bringing these outfits to life. Wishing our athletes every success."

 

Team Sri Lanka enters the final stage of its journey to Glasgow, united by a shared commitment to represent the nation with courage, integrity and excellence. The Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka wishes every athlete and official the very best as they compete on one of the world's premier multi-sport stages and proudly fly the Sri Lankan flag before the Commonwealth.

 

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