Thousands of Sri Lankans, families and cricket supporters gathered at Hainault Recreation Ground in Ilford on Sunday 12 July for the 36th Festival of Cricket (FoC) 2026. The annual event brought together competitive school cricket, Sri Lankan culture, family entertainment and charitable giving under the theme of “Unity, Harmony and Togetherness.”
Established in 1989, the Festival of Cricket has grown into one of the largest annual Sri Lanka events in the UK. It provides a significant meeting point for Sri Lankans in the UK, while also welcoming friends, supporters and people interested in Sri Lankan heritage.
Across the grounds, spectators watched school Old Boys’ Association teams compete for the tournament titles, enjoyed Sri Lankan food and cultural performances, and visited trade stalls supported by businesses and community organisations.
A major cricket tournament for the Sri Lankan community
Cricket remained at the centre of the festival, with 30 men’s school Old Boys’ Association teams and 11 women’s teams taking part in the 2026 competition.
The men’s tournament included 64 matches, while the women’s competition featured 12 matches. Multiple pitches were in use throughout the day as teams representing some of Sri Lanka’s best-known schools competed in a lively but respectful atmosphere.
The tournament also reflected the continued strength of school alumni networks in the UK. Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Associations play an important role in maintaining friendships, supporting community activities and connecting younger generations with the schools and traditions that shaped their families.
At the conclusion of the men’s competition, Isipathana College were crowned Cup champions after defeating Zahira College in the final. Royal College won the Plate championship.
In the women’s competition, Visakha Vidyalaya and Anula Vidyalaya shared the championship honours, recognising the strong participation and performance of both teams.
Individual awards also highlighted the quality of the tournament. Ravindu Ratnayake of Isipathana College was named Player of the Tournament, while Lakshan Edirisinghe of Zahira College received the Player of the Final award.
Chief Guest highlights the festival’s importance
The 2026 Festival of Cricket was attended by His Excellency Nimal Senadheera, representing the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom, who served as Chief Guest.
His presence underlined the festival’s importance within the wider Sri Lankan community calendar. While the event is built around sport, it has developed into a broad celebration of Sri Lankan identity and community participation in Britain.
The festival was led by President Krishan Bulathsinghala of Nalanda College. The organising committee brought together representatives from several Sri Lankan school associations, reflecting the cooperation required to stage a large one-day event of this scale.
Volunteers, players, families, sponsors and community groups all contributed to the success of the festival. Their involvement demonstrates how Sri Lankan community organisations in the UK continue to create opportunities for participation across generations.
Sri Lankan culture takes centre stage
The Festival of Cricket offered much more than sporting competition. Throughout the day, the grounds became a colourful showcase of Sri Lankan culture, hospitality and creativity.
Visitors enjoyed traditional Sri Lankan food, international cuisine, commercial and trade stalls, live music and cultural performances. A children’s funfair provided entertainment for younger visitors, while families used the event as an opportunity to spend time together in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Cultural performances gave children and young people an important platform to present traditional dance and music to a large audience. These performances also helped introduce Sri Lankan customs to friends of the community and to younger British-born Sri Lankans who may experience their heritage in different ways.
For many visitors, the combination of cricket, food, music and familiar faces created a strong connection with home. The festival allowed families to celebrate Sri Lankan culture in the UK while remaining part of the wider British community.
This balance is one of the event’s enduring strengths. It preserves cultural traditions without closing them off from the broader public.
Businesses support community participation
The 2026 festival received substantial support from businesses and sponsors. Home Lands, together with its Pentara Residencies project, served as the headline sponsor.
Other major supporters included Bank of Ceylon (UK) Limited, BVS Mortgages & Wealth Management and USL, alongside additional sponsors, partners and exhibitors.
Trade stalls gave companies an opportunity to meet members of the Sri Lankan community and present services relevant to families, professionals and business owners. The involvement of organisations from property, banking, financial services and other sectors also reflects the growing contribution of Sri Lankan businesses to community life in the UK.
Community events such as the Festival of Cricket provide more than commercial visibility. They create spaces where businesses can build relationships, support charitable activities and demonstrate their commitment to the people they serve.
Charity remains a central purpose
Charitable giving has been part of the Festival of Cricket since its earliest years. Funds raised through the event support causes in both the UK and Sri Lanka.
The 2026 beneficiaries included Cancer Research UK, Anthony Nolan and Cancer Relief Sri Lanka, as well as school charities and other deserving community initiatives.
The festival’s charitable history can be traced back to its beginnings. When the event was first organised, fundraising supported the purchase of medical equipment for the Children’s Cancer Ward at the Maharagama Cancer Institute in Sri Lanka.
That early commitment established a model that continues today: using sport and culture to bring people together while supporting important causes. The festival’s charitable work gives the day a wider purpose and ensures that community participation contributes to practical assistance for others.
A legacy dating back to 1989
The Festival of Cricket was first conceived in 1988 by G.C. Perera, who was then Sports and Social Secretary of the Ananda Old Boys’ Association in the UK.
The inaugural festival took place in 1989 and involved six Old Boys’ Associations: Ananda, Royal, St Thomas’, St Peter’s, Trinity and St Anthony’s. What began as a gathering of school alumni has since developed into a major annual event for Sri Lankans in the UK.
Over 36 years, the festival has expanded in size and scope. It now brings together men’s and women’s teams, cultural performers, families, business representatives, charity supporters and thousands of spectators.
Its continued success reflects the lasting appeal of cricket within the Sri Lankan diaspora. The sport provides a familiar connection to Sri Lanka, while the festival setting allows that connection to be shared with children and young people growing up in Britain.
A memorable day for Sri Lankans in the UK
The 36th Festival of Cricket demonstrated the strength and diversity of the Sri Lankan community in London and across the United Kingdom.
The day combined sporting achievement with cultural pride and social responsibility. Isipathana College’s Cup victory, Royal College’s Plate success and the shared women’s championship honours provided memorable moments on the field. Off the field, music, dance, food, family activities and community stalls created a welcoming festival atmosphere.
The event also showed how organisations, volunteers and sponsors can work together to support a shared community vision. From the school associations that organised the competition to the charities that benefit from the proceeds, the festival connected participation with purpose.
As one of the most established Sri Lanka events in the UK, the Festival of Cricket continues to give the diaspora a place to meet, celebrate and contribute. Its legacy of unity, harmony and togetherness remains as relevant today as it was when the first festival was held in 1989.
For further coverage of Sri Lankan culture, community events and diaspora stories, readers can explore elanka’s Sri Lankan community coverage. Further information about the Festival of Cricket is available through the official Festival of Cricket website.
Original source
This article is based on the report published by The Desi Buzz:
Source photographs: The Desi Buzz. Additional image: AI-generated for illustrative purposes.
