People’s Bank has stepped forward as the sponsor of the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Tournaments 2026, as an initiative dedicated to inspiring young talent, encouraging greater participation in basketball and supporting the future of Sri Lankan sport.
The official launch of the sponsorship program was held recently at the People’s Tower Auditorium, Colombo 02, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between People’s Bank and the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association was signed and exchanged.
Under the initiative, People’s Bank will sponsor the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-20 categories in 2026, supporting the development of emerging basketball talent and providing young athletes with greater opportunities to participate in competitive sport.
Complementing the sponsorship, the Bank will also launch a dedicated communication program aimed at popularising basketball among schoolchildren and encouraging greater participation in the sport. Through this initiative, People’s Bank seeks to inspire more young people to embrace basketball while fostering important values including discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance and a commitment to excellence.
The Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Championship attracts participation from more than 120 schools islandwide, including many of the country’s leading national, private and international schools. Comprising both boys’ and girls’ divisions, the championship provides a highly competitive platform for the development of young athletes while promoting basketball across all provinces of Sri Lanka.
The tournament is expected to feature approximately 80 boys’ teams and 50 girls’ teams, with nearly 1,950 student athletes participating. The significant level of participation demonstrates the growing popularity of basketball among Sri Lankan schoolchildren and the importance of providing sustained support for school-level sports.
The launch was attended by Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Additional Secretary (Co-curricular and Primary Education Development) P.R. Kariyawasam; People’s Bank Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando; Directors Chandana Guniyangoda, Chandima Abeyagunawardene and Dr. Gishan Illangakoon; Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka; Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association President Iran Champika Silva; members of People’s Bank Corporate and Executive Management; former national basketball players and captains; members of the basketball community; and student athletes.
Through its sponsorship of the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Tournaments 2026, People’s Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting active participation in sport and contributing towards building a stronger and more accomplished future for Sri Lanka.