The netball matches of the 49th National Sports Festival concluded at the Matara District Sports Complex Indoor Stadium during the last week. There were nine provincial teams in the fray for glory in the sports that belonged to the ladies. After a nail-biting finish in the thrilling final, Wayamba (North Western Province) edged out the Central Province outfit to claim the gold medal.
The tournament went across three days, and Wayamba, Central, Western, and Southern ladies managed to show their colours and to book their place in the semi-finals. In the semifinals the strong Western province side was defeated by the Wayamba lasses, and the ladies from the central hills earned a spot in the finals with a thumping win over the Southern side.
In the finals, the team that represents the schools netball powerhouse, the Kurunegala area of the North Western Province, clashed with the formidable Central Province outfit. The final lived up to every bit of its billing after a hard-fought battle. Wayamba ladies edged out their rivals with a slender margin of two points with a score of 50 – 48. This was the first instance where the netball powerhouse Western Province failed to qualify for the finals after 13 long years.
The past pupil from Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala, Hatton National Bank, and Sri Lanka National captain Dulangi Wannithilake was adjudged as the Netball Queen of the tournament.
In the bronze medal encounter, the strong Western Province side was too good for the Southern ladies and they were bulldozed with a 85 – 21 defeat.
The event was graced by the presence of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Sunil Kuma Gamage. Further, Director General of the Department of Sports Development V. Premachandiran, Director of Sports I.P. Wijerathne, Director of the Sports Development Department (Administration) Madhusarani K. Rajapaksha, Director of the North Western Province Madusha Ilangasekera, Assistant Director of Sports Development Sisira Wellegedara, and a few other distinguished guests were present at the glamorous presentation ceremony.
49th National Sports Festival – Netball Final Results
- Gold Medal – North Western (Wayamba) Province
- Silver Medal – Central Province
- Bronze Medal – Western Province
- 4th place – Southern Province
Netball Queen Dulangi Wannithilake
 edged out the Central Province outfit to claim the gold medal. ){kind=link}