SL Women’s Volleyball Team to Open CAVA Championship Campaign Against Kazakhstan

Sri Lanka Women’s Volleyball Squad with the Minister of Sports and SLVB officials.SGDH Senarathna (High Attacker), HPNS Gunawardana (High Attacker), AMPP Abeysinghe (High Attacker), GGTM Wasanthapriya (High Attacker), KMCA Wasanthi (High Attacker), J Thilakshana (High Attacker), EMS Karunarathna (Quick Attacker), WKP Bhashini (Quick Attacker), RPD Nethsara (Quick Attacker), WSR Hadapangoda (Quick Attacker), WAC Jayathunga (Setter), HPDC Ranaweera (Setter), HPKA Galkotuwa (Libero), WMGGNH Weerakoon (Libero), CM Kariyawasam (Manager), GAE Wijepala (Head Coach), NAU Rukmal (Assistant Coach), PKU Perera (Trainer), JAR Nilmini (Lady Chaperon).

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lanka National Women’s Volleyball Team is scheduled to participate in its first match against Kazakhstan today (23) at 12.00 noon under the Preliminary Round of the ongoing Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Women’s Championship 2026.

The second edition of the CAVA Women’s Championship, organized by CAVA, is being held from May 22–29 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Eight countries, including Sri Lanka, are participating in the CAVA Women’s Championship.

Coaches state that the main objective is to win matches in the preliminary round and qualify for the final round of the tournament.

Accordingly, under the Preliminary Round, Group ‘A’ consists of host country Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, defending champions India, and Maldives, while Group ‘B’ includes Iran, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

According to the match schedule, Sri Lanka will face Kazakhstan on May 23, Iran on May 24, and Bangladesh on May 25 in the preliminary round.

The CAVA Women’s Tournament has been conducted since 2024, and Sri Lanka finished in fourth place in the inaugural tournament. India won the first edition, while Iran won the 2025 championship.