Dialog powers Sri Lanka’s most loved school cricket season

Thursday, 12 February 2026 02:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dialog Axiata Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma (centre, back row), Group Marketing Vice President Harsha Samaranayake (left), along with Dialog Axiata Media and Home Business Head Pubudu Aluthgedara (right). Dialog Axiata Head of Brands Aqib Reyal, ThePapare TV and ThePapare Life Head of Business and Channel Dishan De Saa, distinguished guests representing the schools participating in the Dialog Big Match Season 2026, as well as the Captains of the respective school cricket teams are also present - Pic by Indrarathna Balasuriya

By Katie Speldewinde

March in Sri Lanka doesn’t ease in quietly; it arrives with drums, colours, chants, and packed school stands. While the rest of the world obsesses over March Madness, here at home it’s all about our madness: the return of the big match season. Crisp white kits, painted faces, brass bands, and generations of rivalry take over cities and schools, reminding us why school cricket sits at the heart of Sri Lankan sport.

Fuelling this year’s excitement is Dialog Axiata PLC, which officially unveiled the Dialog Big Match Season at a recent press conference, confirming its support for six of the country’s most prestigious school cricket encounters, featuring 12 leading schools from across the island. From Colombo to Kandy, Kurunegala, Moratuwa and Jaffna, the season promises tradition, talent, and pure schoolboy passion.

The action begins with the iconic 147th Battle of the Blues between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, played from 12-14 March at the SSC Grounds, followed by the eagerly awaited one-day encounter on 28 March. Close behind is the 92nd Battle of the Saints between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College from 19-21 March with the limited-over clash scheduled for 25 April.

In Jaffna, northern pride will be on full display at the 109th Northern Battle of the Golds between St. Patrick’s College and Jaffna College from 12-14 March. Kandy hosts the historic 119th Battle of the Maroons between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College from 21-23 March, while Kurunegala gears up for the 42nd Battle of the Rocks from 20-22 March. The western region adds to the spectacle with the 74th Battle of the Golds, taking place from 27-29 March.

Speaking at the season unveiling, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Thevarapperuma emphasised that big matches are more than just games; they are a vital part of Sri Lanka’s sporting culture and a proven pathway for nurturing future national cricketers.

Ensuring fans don’t miss a single over, all matches will be broadcast live on ThePapare TV via Dialog Television channels 62, 63, 126, and 127, and streamed on the Dialog Play App and ThePapare.com, bringing the big match buzz to screens across the island.

With rivalries renewed, drums beating louder, and school colours proudly worn, the Dialog Big Match Season once again proves that when March arrives, Sri Lanka doesn’t just watch cricket, it lives it.