The Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) is set to return approximately Rs. 600,000 to the Ministry of Sports following the recently completed Asian Netball Championship held in Hong Kong, where Sri Lanka finished third overall. This refund reflects funds left unspent from the budget allocated for the tournament.

Despite the national team’s failure to secure a place in the upcoming Netball World Cup in Australia, the NFSL’s new administration under President Vajira Nethicumara has emphasized adherence to policies of transparency and accountability. According to Nethicumara, this return of excess funds may mark the first occasion of its kind for an international tour under the federation’s management.

The Ministry of Sports had fully funded the Sri Lankan team’s participation in the 2026 Asian Championship. With limited time and scarce opportunities to attract sponsorship, the NFSL, which has been governed by the current leadership for over 19 months, largely depended on government support for travel and related expenses.

Nethicumara expressed gratitude to Tamara Dharmakeerthi-Herath, a former NFSL president and ex-national netball and hockey player, who leveraged her connections in the financial sector to secure sponsorship for the team. This funding supported the squad’s preparation, including a six-match exposure series against Lincoln University of New Zealand held in Colombo, designed to assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the championship.

However, the team’s performance at the Asian Championship did not fully capitalize on these preparations. Sri Lanka was twice defeated by eventual champions Singapore and settled for a draw against Hong Kong, missing the opportunity to reclaim the regional title.

Looking ahead, Nethicumara emphasized the importance of learning from these setbacks. With more time until the next Asian Championship in 2028, she expressed confidence that the team could regain the title through comprehensive planning and improved execution both on and off the court.

Since assuming office in late January, the NFSL administration has prioritized resolving backlogged issues and restoring the national squad’s functionality. With the support of committed stakeholders, they have managed to meet the team’s essential needs and resume development and training programs that had previously been suspended. While recognizing that challenges remain, Nethicumara affirmed the federation’s ongoing commitment to revitalizing netball in Sri Lanka.