About Lanka Premier League

The Lanka Premier League is Sri Lanka's franchise Twenty20 competition, run by Sri Lanka Cricket since 2020.

Why it stands out

This league has been a bit messy and a lot of fun. Owners have changed and team names have changed almost every season, but the city base has held firm, which matters more. Colombo, Dambulla, Galle, Jaffna and Kandy give it a shape that fans can latch on to. That mix of churn and local identity is a big part of the appeal. It doesn't feel polished in the same way as some bigger leagues, and that's part of why it feels alive.

The team everyone has chased

If there's one story that defines the LPL, it's Jaffna. The franchise won the first title as Jaffna Stallions and then kept setting the pace as Jaffna Kings, piling up four championships in all. Kandy did break through to win in 2023, which the competition needed. Still, the Jaffna side has been the standard and the team most others have measured themselves against.

What the cricket looks like

The batting has got bigger. In our archive, the average first innings score has moved from 170 at the start to 174 more recently, and the six hitting has climbed too. That tracks with what the eye says. Games tend to move fast and attacks are put under pressure. Avishka Fernando has scored the most runs in our records since the league began, and Pathum Nissanka's 119 against Kandy in 2024 is the standout innings. That's the kind of knock the LPL suits: clean hitting, sharp intent and no time to drift.

2026 season

Galle Gallants are the reigning champions (2026); Jaffna Kings hold the record with 4 titles. The 2026 season is complete: Galle Gallants won the final on 8 August 2026.

Key facts

First season

2020

Organiser

Sri Lanka Cricket

Teams

5 city franchises