The 49th edition of the National Sports Festival (2025), the island nation’s biggest and most extravagant sporting event, concluded at the Dadalla Sports Complex, Galle. During this sporting rally, more than 5,000 athletes from all over the island took part in 33 distinct sporting disciplines. The sporting event was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the collaboration of the Department of Sports Development and respective sports administrating bodies. Once again, Western Province stamped their class in bold to clinch the overall championship with a medal bag of 209 medals (83 gold, 55 silver and 71 bronze medals).
The victorious western side managed to clinch the championships in athletics (women’s), badminton (men’s & women’s), basketball (men’s & women’s), boxing (men’s), carrom (men’s & women’s), chess (women’s), cricket, cycling (men’s & women’s), football (women’s), gymnastics (overall), handball (men’s & women’s), karate-do (overall), rugby 7s (men’s), swimming (overall), taekwondo (women’s), table tennis (women’s), tug of war (women’s), volleyball (men’s), wrestling (men’s) and wushu (men’s).
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As usual, Central Province emerged as the overall runners-up in the 49th National Sports Festival with a clear margin by clinching 43 gold, 55 silver and 68 bronze medals. The Central team won the championships in athletics (men’s), cross-country (men’s & women’s), hockey (men’s & women’s), judo (men’s & women’s) and marathon (men’s & women’s).
The hosts, Southern Province, defended their 2nd runners-up position, though they were not able to make any progress by using the home advantage. They have clinched championships in boxing (women’s), cricket softball (men’s & women’s), chess (men’s), race walking (women’s), rugby 7s (women’s), table tennis (men’s) and volleyball (women’s).
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The North Western (Wayamba) Province also managed to defend their 3rd runner-up position. Their athletes won championships in netball, Elle (men’s), taekwondo, weightlifting (men’s & women’s) and wrestling (women’s).
Further, there was a significant move in the medal table as Sabaragamuwa Province jumped up to the overall 5th position. They managed to win the championships of beach volleyball (men’s), elle (women’s), and kabaddi (women’s).
In addition, Eastern Province managed to advance 2 spots to overall 6th position by winning championships in beach kabaddi (men’s) and beach volleyball (women’s).
This edition of the National Sports Festival wasn’t a good one for North Central Province, as they fell two spots in the medal table to 7th position. Irrespective of that, their athletes clinched championships in Kabbaddi (Men’s), Race-walking (Men’s) and Tug of War (Men’s).
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Apart from the above, Uva Province fell by one spot to 8th position and won the beach kabbadi (women’s) championship. Once again the wooden spoon went to Northern Province, but they displayed some courageous performance and managed to double their medal tally compared to the previous edition.
As far as the final medal table is concerned, there weren’t any major changes in the positions, but there is a positive sign of a tight competition, as all the provinces at the top had reduced their medal tally, while the provinces placed at the bottom had managed to increase their medal tally. This can also be taken as a testimony for the successful efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Department of Sports Development to uplift the standard in the rural areas of the country.
The victorious western province athletes
Over-all Medal Table 2025
Gold Silver Bronze
Western Province 83 55 71
Central Province 43 64 68
Southern Province 33 52 46
North Western Province 23 33 39
Sagaramuwa Province 18 22 48
Eastern Province 15 09 22
North Central Province 13 23 33
Uva Province 13 15 36
Northern Province 10 05 09
Over-all Medal Table 2024
Gold Silver Bronze
Western Province 106 82 90
Central Province 45 47 64
Southern Province 37 47 42
North Western Province 37 25 41
North Central Province 16 21 37
Sagaramuwa Province 12 23 46
Uva Province 09 14 26
Eastern Province 09 10 11
Northern Province 05 08 07
, the island nation’s biggest and most extravagant sporting event, concluded at the Dadalla Sports Complex, Galle. During this sporting rally, more than 5,000 athletes from all over the island took part in 33 distinct sporting disciplines. The sporting event was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the collaboration of the Department of Sports Development and respective sports administrating bodies. Once again, Western Province stamped their class in bold to clinch the overall championship with a medal bag of 209 medals (83 gold, 55 silver and 71 bronze medals).){kind=link}