Sri Lanka is fielding its largest-ever contingent at the Asian Youth Games 2025, currently underway in Manama, Bahrain.
Although the Games officially begins with the opening ceremony on Wednesday (22) and runs until 31 October, competition events have already commenced, with Sri Lanka participating in kabaddi and beach volleyball.
Boxer Janidu Dhananjaya, the national number one in the Under-16 52kg category, and long jumper Dilini Nethsala will carry the Sri Lankan flag at the opening ceremony.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprises 150 members, including 100 athletes—56 boys and 44 girls—competing across 12 sports. They are accompanied by 31 team officials and 19 delegation officials.
Sri Lankan athletes will compete in athletics, badminton, basketball (3×3), boxing, esports, golf, kabaddi, swimming, taekwondo, beach volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.
Kabaddi is the largest contingent, featuring 28 athletes (14 boys and 14 girls) and four officials, surpassing athletics, which includes 21 athletes and six officials.
Sri Lanka has won a total of nine medals in the previous two editions of the Asian Youth Games. Seven of those medals came from athletics, while squash and swimming contributed one each—courtesy of Mihiliya Methsarani (squash) and Matthew Abeysinghe (swimming), who both won bronze in 2013.
Sri Lanka was originally scheduled to host the third edition of the Asian Youth Games in 2017 but later lost the hosting rights. The event was not held for 12 years following the 2013 edition, until Bahrain stepped in to host the 2025 Games.
For the first time, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has provided a per diem of USD 200 per athlete, marking a historic first for Sri Lankan athletes at a multi-sport event.
Games regulations permit each athlete to compete in only one event over 200 metres, meaning Lahiru Achintha and Nethmi Gimhani will have to choose between their respective events before stepping onto the track.
Team Sri Lanka
Athletics
Boys: Shanuka Costa (400m, Medley Relay), Nathan Willaddara (800m), Lahiru Achintha (1500m, 3000m), Kisal Gagandara (110m Hurdles), Methuka Malhiru (400m Hurdles), Chirantha Deshan (2000m Steeplechase), Rusith Nimsara (Long Jump), Savindu Sudharaka (Triple Jump), Chathura Jayathissa (Javelin Throw), Vishal Fernando (Medley Relay), Bigumina Senevirathne (Medley Relay), Loshana de Silva (Medley Relay), Chamindu Sathsara (Medley Relay)
Girls: Tharani Nirmina (100m, 200m, Medley Relay), Chenadi Dewhara (400m, Medley Relay), Nethmi Gimhani (800m, 1500m), Chalsha Dewmini (100m Hurdles), Amaya Peduru Hewa (400m Hurdles), Dilini Nethsala (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Kaushalya Jayawardhana (Medley Relay), Teshani Wanshanayaka (Medley Relay),
Coaches: Nihal Wickramasinghe, Sugath Karunaratna, Damitha Athukorala, Anuradha Nanayakkara, Lal Wijewickrama Manager: Jayalal Rathnasooriya
Badminton
Athletes: Nethmi Amaya Ratnayake, Sithuli Ranasinghe, Pamudu Pankaja Randiligama, Keneth Aruggoda
Coach/Manager: Chamath Kavinda Dias
Basketball
Boys: Himaru Warnakulasuriya, Vijan Ferdinando, Rasindu Gunawardhana, Aaron Gerald
Girls: Tinara Perera, Sithuki Kodagoda, Pramuditha Chandrasekara, Binuthi Jayasinghe
Coaches: Tharindu Darshana Fernando (Men), Nadeeshani Kumarine Silva (Women)
Managers: Thusitha Yatigammana (Men), Jayantha Ranhotige (Women)
Boxing
Athletes: Janindu Dhananjaya, Binul Dulnada
Coaches: Lahiru Perera, Amila Thissera
Esports
Athletes: Haiyan Alfar, Sayuni Wickramarathna
Manager: Ramesh Lakmal Liyanage
Golf
Athletes: Kaya Daluwatte, Deegayu Weerasinghe, Jevahn Sathasivam, Reshan Algama
Coach: Mithun Perera
Kabaddi
Boys: Dasun Dissanayaka, Thilina Pramodya Weerasuriya, Lasitha Pradeep Karunasinha, Sahan Rashmika Gamage, Sahan Iduwara Kulathunga Athukoralage, Pirathaap Karunakaran, Milhan Mahi Ramzath, Madusha Dilshara Samaranayaka, Niyaaf Zaini Fareed, Thisara Denuwan Gamanayaka, Samri Sahaththen, Sithum Sathsara Samarasighe, Tharusha Nimsara Samaranayaka, Mothisha Tashmika Kumara Agampodi
Coach: Udara Sattambi
Manager: Nimal Dharmasri
Girls: Amashi Dias, Rashmini Ekanayaka, Prabudhi Ginihappitiye, Sanjana Bandara, Nethmini Weerasinghe, Dulakshi Perera, Lukshani Selwaraj, Amalsha Gamaathige, Nishalini Thiyakarasa, Denethi Theekshana, Pithursha Theiventhiran, Malmi Samaranayaka, Thirushsana Pusparasa, Hashini Akarshani Perera
Coach: Lahiru Sampath Withana
Manager: Kumudu Premarathna
Swimming
Girls: Sasha Rajapakse, Thinugi Melegoda, Julie Hope, Syesha Anthony
Boys: Adeetha Siriwardena, Yashith Wijesundera, Jayden De Silva, Lithum De Silva, Muhammad Fidhyan
Coach: Matthew Abeysinghe
Manager: Bagyanath Yahampath
Taekwondo
Girls: Vishmi Thalahitiye, Savidya Ritigahapola
Boys: Pasanjaya Ranasinghe, Keshan Fernando, Ashen Punchihewa
Coaches: Jayantha Mudiyansela, Rasika Dharmapriya
Manager: Asoka Bandara
Beach Volleyball
Girls: Chamudi Muthumala, Shadeesha Dilrukshi
Boys: Didula Fernando, Kusal Dulmina
Coaches: Mahesh Perera (Men), Hashan Damith (Women)
Weightlifting
Girls: Samadhi Pabsara
Boys: Nithika Weerasinghe, Venura Kariyawasam
Coach: Chanaka Kumara
Manager: Sampath Ratnayake
Wrestling
Girls: Yohani Bandara, Kithmi Herath, Deshika Sathsarani, Dewmini Ranaweera, Piyumi Rambukwella
Boys: Theekshana Yoshitha, Dirushanth Sanjeev, Nimesh Dulanjana, Seneru Fernando, Vinod Iduranga
Coaches: Dilruk De Silva Pinnaduwage (Head), Thiruchelvam Velu (Assistant)
Manager: Pradeep Kumara
Delegation Officials
Manjula Prabath Kumara Dissanayake (Chef de Mission)
Nalin Darshika Wewakumbura (Deputy Chef de Mission)
Yasodara Dunuwille Koralage (Press Attaché)
Gobinath Sivarajah (Safeguarding Officer)
Priyanka Nishani Ranasinghe Munasinghe (Lady Chaperone)
Udeni Priyadarshani Wijethunga (Lady Chaperone)
Fariz Ahamed Mohamed Sheriff (Chief Medical Doctor)
Pradeep Kiriella (Medical Doctor)
Anuradhini Awarjana De Silva (Physiotherapist)
Nayani Damayanthi Hewage (Masseur)
Shalika Lakmal Rajapaksha (Masseur)
Chathurangani Iresha Nanayakkara (Masseur)
Manoj Dharshana Piyarathne (Masseur)
Lumbini Wasundara Dissanayake (HQ Official)
Nipuni Darshika Thalpe (HQ Official)
Ilanga Wijeratne (HQ Official)
Pubudu Ravinda Pathiravithana (HQ Official)
Vijithanganie Dharmapala Nanayakkara (HQ Official)
Chalani Rekha Dayarathna (HQ Official)