Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially announced that the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held from November 27 to December 23, 2025. This year’s tournament will be played across three major international cricket venues: R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (PICS), and Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS).
According to LPL Tournament Director Mr. Samantha Dodanwela, scheduling the tournament during this timeframe is a strategic move to better align with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to begin in February.
“The idea to conduct the LPL during this time frame is aimed at aligning the tournament with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” said Mr. Dodanwela.
Possible Expansion to Six Teams
Sources have indicated that discussions are underway to expand the tournament to six teams. Since its inception, the LPL has featured five teams representing Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla, and Jaffna. The idea of a sixth team has been under consideration for some time, but Sri Lanka Cricket has adopted a careful approach, particularly due to challenges surrounding franchise ownership stability.
Franchise Changes Ahead of 2025 Season
Earlier in 2025, SLC made the significant decision to terminate the Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers franchises due to non-compliance with contractual terms. These two teams, including Jaffna, which had been the longest-standing franchise since joining in the second season, now await new ownership. Currently, none of the existing teams have ownership that predates 2024.
Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet announced the new owners for the Jaffna and Colombo teams, but updates are expected closer to the tournament.