Tennis Premier League to transform future in Sri Lanka

The future of Sri Lankan tennis took a significant step forward with the official launch of the Sri Lanka Tennis Premier League (SLTPL), a groundbreaking initiative designed to create a sustainable ecosystem for the growth and development of tennis across the country.

Organised with the endorsement and support of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), the inaugural SLTPL will take place from August 27 to 30, 2026 at the SLTA hard courts in Colombo, bringing together eight city-based franchises representing Colombo, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Negombo.

More than a tournament, the SLTPL has been conceived as a long-term investment in the future of Sri Lankan tennis. 

According to the organisers, the event is being promoted as a not-for-profit model and that every surplus generated by the league will be channelled into a dedicated Tennis Development Fund, supporting infrastructure development, grassroots programmes, coaching pathways and athlete development across the island.

Speaking at the launch, SLTA president Iqbal Bin Issack noted that while Sri Lanka possesses the talent, passion and sporting culture needed to succeed, the sport has historically lacked a sustainable mechanism to fund its long-term growth. 

The SLTPL aims to address this challenge by creating a commercially viable platform that generates resources while elevating the profile of tennis nationwide.

SLTPL director Roshan Silva described the initiative as a movement rather than simply a sporting event, highlighting its ambition to create a thriving tennis culture that engages players, fans, sponsors and communities across the country. 

The league has already begun delivering tangible benefits, with work underway to install international-standard floodlighting at the SLTA hard courts, marking the first infrastructure project supported through the league.

Beyond player development, the SLTPL is expected to attract increased corporate investment into the sport. 

With tennis appealing to an engaged and influential audience, the league offers brands an opportunity to support a meaningful national sporting initiative while contributing directly to the growth of the game.