Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Launches HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, Powered by Anchor Newdale, and Hosts Inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), the national governing body for aquatic sports, proudly announces the HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, powered by Anchor Newdale, to be held from 7th to 11th May 2025. This year’s championship will also feature the inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship, taking place from 8th to 11th May 2025 the first time this international water polo event is being hosted in Sri Lanka.
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SLASU governs six aquatic disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Traditionally, competitions in these disciplines are held independently. However, this year, SLASU is bringing swimming, diving, and water polo together into one vibrant national event to foster greater unity, create an exciting championship atmosphere, and generate broader public interest in emerging and underrepresented aquatic disciplines like diving and water polo.
To ensure the event reaches audiences across Sri Lanka and beyond, ThePapare.com and ThePapare TV 2 HD (Dialog TV Channel 127) will live telecast all five days of competition, offering fans unprecedented access to the action from anywhere in the world.
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The HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, powered by Anchor Newdale is made possible thanks to the commitment and generosity of a strong lineup of partners:
- Title Sponsor: Hatton National Bank (HNB)
- Gold Sponsor: Anchor Newdale
- Silver Sponsors: Glory Sports and Stingray Swimming School
- Food & Beverage Partner: Perera and Sons
- Education Partner: Oxford School of Business
- Radio Partner: EFM
- Activewear Partner: Run Club
- Outdoor Digital Partner: Emerging Media
This championship also marks the official launch of SLASU’s Elite Athlete Management Program, a transformative initiative designed to support the long term development and retention of Sri Lanka’s top aquatic athletes. HNB is introducing specialized financial solutions for student athletes to continue their education while competing at national and international levels. The Oxford School of Business has also stepped forward with scholarships for elite swimmers to pursue higher education within Sri Lanka. Furthermore, SLASU is working with leading corporates to offer flexible employment to swimmers over 18, allowing them to continue their athletic careers while gaining valuable work experience helping ensure they stay and compete in Sri Lanka.
The event will also serve as the stage for the Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship, a landmark bilateral series. Featuring both boys’ and girls’ teams from Sri Lanka and India, the tournament is set to become an annual fixture, with each nation hosting the event in alternate years. Sri Lanka is honoured to host the inaugural edition this year, with a return leg planned in India in 2026. SLASU is currently in discussions with the Swimming Federation of India to expand the collaboration in the near future to include senior national teams as well.
With this landmark event, SLASU reinforces its commitment to raising the standard of aquatic sports in Sri Lanka, nurturing future champions, and building strong international partnerships through meaningful competition.
