The 19th Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Championship 2026 commenced on Sunday at the Youth Services Council Indoor Stadium in Maharagama. The tournament, supported by leading telecommunications provider Dialog Axiata, began with an opening ceremony attended by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police and President of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Sanjeeva Medawatte, along with Dialog Axiata Group Vice President of Marketing Harsha Samarawickrama.
The championship, aimed at fostering volleyball talent at the grassroots level, is being conducted in two phases: district and national competitions. This weekend’s opening matches feature teams from the Colombo and Kalutara districts. Competitions for other districts will take place in their respective locations, with the district-level stage scheduled to conclude by October 15.
Organizers have also allowed late registrations for teams that missed the initial deadline. Such teams can present themselves with valid identification at the relevant venues before the start of matches on the opening day to participate.
Harsha Samarawickrama emphasized the significance of the tournament as a platform for developing sporting talent across Sri Lanka. He noted that the competition provides players and teams from rural areas opportunities to showcase their skills at a national level, aligning with Dialog’s broader objective of supporting sports development.
Senior DIG Sanjeeva Medawatte highlighted the tournament’s role in identifying and nurturing exceptional talent from grassroots volleyball. According to him, many players who have taken part in the Gold Cup have advanced to represent Sri Lanka at the national level, illustrating the championship’s impact on the sport’s development within the country.
Fans and supporters can follow the tournament via multiple digital platforms, including Dialog Television, the Dialog Play app, and ThePapare.com, enabling widespread access to live coverage for students, alumni, parents, and volleyball enthusiasts nationwide.