Stage set for showdown of 50,000 athletes, 10,000 schools

By Susil Premala

The Ministry of Education has announced that the All Island School Games (AISG) 2025 will be conducted in four stages, from August 25 to October 14, in Colombo and several other major venues. Nearly 50,000 student athletes from around 10,000 schools island-wide are expected to participate in athletics and team competitions, progressing from the zonal level.

The 2025 edition will feature 31 sports disciplines. Stage One will have 11 sports held between August 25 and September 2 in locations including Trincomalee, Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy, Galewela, Kurunegala, Negombo, Gampaha, and Kataragama. 

According to a Provincial Sports Director attached to the Ministry, swimming (Aug. 25–27, Colombo), gymnastics (Aug. 26–27, Colombo), physical fitness (Aug. 29–30, Jaffna), judo (Aug. 29–31, Colombo), netball (Aug. 29–31, Kandy), handball (Aug. 29–31, Galewela), carom (North Western Province), beach volleyball (Aug. 25–27, Negombo), wrestling (Aug. 27–Sept. 1, Vathupitiwala) and cycling (Sept. 1–2, Kataragama) are included in the opening stage.

Stage Two, scheduled from September 12–15, will feature 10 sports including softball cricket, weightlifting, karate, aerobic gymnastics, wushu, hockey, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. Stage Three, from September 19–25, will showcase boxing, chess, rugby, badminton, kabaddi, football, leather ball cricket, taekwondo and throwball.

The fourth and final stage will begin with the half marathon on October 4, followed by the flagship AISG athletics championships at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama from October 10–14. Organisers say this will be the grand culmination of the Games, bringing together the best school athletes from across the country.