The final stage of the 32nd Milo Sri Lanka Schools Netball Championship 2025 concluded last weekend at the historical Maligapitiya Grounds in Kurunegala. After showing grit and glare, the girls from the Kurunegala Netball Fortress, Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, were crowned as the champions for the third consecutive year.
Significantly, a large crowd gathered at Kurunegala to witness the future stars of the game displaying their talents on the school stage. After showcasing their strength, spirit and skills, the girls from Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, stood bigger, better and bolder to clinch the overall championship with a clear margin by accumulating 55 points. Further, the Maliyadeva lasses dominated the tournament on their home soil by reaching three finals out of four. The Green and Gold brigade clinched the Under-15 and Under-19 Finals and won the Runners Up position in the Under-13 category after unluckily losing by just 1 point in the Finals. The champions trained under the watchful eyes of their veteran Head Coach, Kamal Sri Kanchana. Further, the President of the Schools Netball Association, Nirodha Abeywickrama, provided overall guidance to the teams in the capacity of the Principal of their school.
>>Girls from the Kurunegala netball fortress dominate the SL youth squad<<
The schools’ Netball powerhouse from the capital, Musaeus College, gave a fine fight to the champs by displaying their courage and determination but had to be satisfied with the overall championship Runners Up position. The vibrant Under-17 outfit of Museaus clinched the championship by beating Hillwood College after an exhilarating Final.
Apart from that, there was a close tussle between Tissa Central College, Kalutara, and Hillwood College, Kandy, for the third place, and after posting 20 points each, they were declared as the joint 3rd place winners. Further, the Under-13 girls from Tissa College managed to win the respective championship in their age group, while Hillwood emerged as the runner-up in the Under-17 segment.
It was a novel experience as all the ‘A’ Division Finals were played under lights at Maliga Pitiya, Kurunegala, and in the much-awaited Under-19 final, hometown arch-rivals Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya and Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala, clashed for supremacy. Both teams fought tooth and nail for every point in the big Final in front of their tense supporters. After the first half, Maliyadeva took a slender lead of 20 – 17, while the Familians were in touching distance. However, in the second half, the Maliyadeva Girls came up with a dominating performance to score 19 points, while only conceding 10 points to clinch the title with a final score of 39 – 27. The Skipper of the winning team, Sarani Wathsala Samarakoon, guided her team well, while the towering goal shooter Tumalka Ekanayake was exceptional throughout the tournament and carried her brilliance to the Final with her agility on the field and accuracy in goal shooting.
The event was graced by the presence of Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thillekaratne as the Chief Guest. Further, the Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle Lanka Ltd – Mr Bernie Stefan, Directors of Nestle Lanka – Mr Mohamed Ali and Mr Ruwan Welikada, the President of the Asia Netball Federation – Mrs Victoria Lakshmi, and the President of the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association – Mrs Nirodha Abeywickrama, were present at the closing ceremony.
During the weekend, the court came alive with fast-paced action, fierce competition, and incredible sportsmanship from schools across the island. With breathtaking goal shots to solid defences, the tournament was a great success. Further, it should be commended that giving girls from a remote area the opportunity to witness an all-island event, will surely inspire the next generation to pick up Netball and to excel at a higher stage.
Results of A Division finals
Under 13 – Final : Tissa Central College, Kalutara beat Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala as 11 – 10,
Bronze Medal Match : Museaus College beat Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda as 11 – 10
Best Player : Ahasi Sanduli ( Tissa Central College, Kalutara)
Under 15 – Final : Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya beat Sri Piyarathana Maha Vidyalaya, Padukka as 24 – 13
Bronze Medal Match : Gothami Balika Vidyalaya beat Hillwood College, Kandy as 11 – 7
Best Player : Chenumi de Silva (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala)
Under 17 – Museaus College beat Hillwood College, Kandy as 15 – 12
Bronze Medal Match : Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy beat Vishaka Colombo as 20 – 16
Best Player – Shiwangi Samarawickrama (Museaus College)
Under 19 – Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya beat Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala as 39 – 27
Bronze Medal Match : Museaus College beat HFC Kalutara 23 – 14
Best Player – Tumalka Ekanayake (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala)
‘A” division final results
Overall champions – Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala (55 points),
Overall 1st runners up – Museaus College, Colombo (40 points)
Joint overall 2nd runners up – Tissa Central College, Kalutara, Hillwood College, Kandy (20 points)
Under 13
Champions – Tissa Central College, Kalutara
1st runners-up – Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala
2nd runners-up – Museaus College, Colombo
4th place – Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda
Under 15
Champions – Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala
1st runners-up – Siri Piyarathana Maha Vidyalaya, Padukka
2nd runners-up – Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo
4th place – Hillwood College, Kandy
Under 17
Champions – Museaus College, Colombo
1st runners-up – Hillwood College, Kandy
2nd runners-up – Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy
4th place – Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo
Under 19
Champions – Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala
1st runners-up – Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala
2nd runners-up – Museaus College, Colombo
4th place – Holy Family Convent – Kalutara
‘B” division final results
Overall champions – Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale (40 points),
Overall runners up – Molaelapitiya Junior School, Kuliyapitiya
Under 13
Champions – Sunanda Maha Vidyalaya, Padeniya,
1st runners-up Christchurch College, Pannipitiya
2nd runners-up – Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Dompe
Under 15
Champions – – Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale,
1st runners-up Ranajayapura Maha Vidyalaya, Ipalogama
2nd runners-up – Molaelapitiya Junior School, Kuliyapitiya
4th place Bisogama Maha Vidyalaya, Kuliyapitiya
Under 17
Champions – Molaelapitiya Junior School, Kuliyapitiya,
1st runners-up Kivula Kanishta Vidyalaya, Hungama
2nd runners-up – Ensigala Maha Vidyalaya, Sandalankawa
4th place Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale,
Under 19
Champions – Mahinda College, Gettuwana
1st runners-up – Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale
2nd runners-up – Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Badulla
4th place – Sunanda Maha Vidyalaya, Padeniya
- Best Player, Under 13 – Ayodya Shanki Adhikari, Sunanda Maha Vidyalaya, Padeniya
- Best Player, Under 15 – Poojani jayawardhane, Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Matale
- Best Player, Under 17 – Thihari Ravindi, Molaelipitiya Junior School
- Best Player, Under 19 – W.D Ushani Chamalsha, Mahinda College, Gettuwana
