Sri Lankan Esports athlete Shihab Rizan represented Sri Lanka at the inaugural Commonwealth
Esports Championship, held as a medal sport alongside the Commonwealth Games 2022 in
Birmingham, England.
The championship featured several tournament titles including Dota 2, eFootball and Rocket
League whilst Shihab competed in the eFootball category.
Shihab is a 28 year-old Sales and Marketing Manager who has participated in many Esports
events to represent Sri Lanka such as the International Esports Federation (IESF) Esports
World Championship 2021, Global Esports Games (GEG) 2021 and also the Asian Electronic
Sports Federation (AESF) e-Masters Chengdu 2021.
Recognised in 2019 as the 70th official sport in Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Youth and Sports,
Esports continues to be amplified with an exponential number of players entering what is widely
regarded as the country’s ‘fastest-growing sport’.
“Esports has been growing rapidly over the last few years in Sri Lanka with many young gamers
stepping up to take part in tournaments and qualify to represent the country at international
Esports tournaments. The talent and skill of these young players has been refreshing to witness
and we are excited to see the sport develop over the next few years.” said Raveen Wijayatilake,
the President of the Sri Lanka Esports Association (SLESA).
SLESA is recognised by the Sports Ministry as the governing body for Esports in Sri Lanka.
SLESA conducts national qualifiers to choose the best gamers to represent the nation and has
a national Esports team for titles such as PES eFootball, DOTA 2, PUBG Mobile, Mobile
Legends, and Arena of Valor.
Dialog Axiata PLC is the official Sponsor of the Esports team in Sri Lanka and also is currently
sponsoring the DIALOG-SLESA All-Island Free Fire Championship. Esports is known as the
fastest-growing sport in the country and an officially recognised sport in Sri Lanka by the
NEWS RELEASE
Ministry of Sports. Esports athletes from Sri Lanka have represented their country at an
international level and are looking to bring home a medal when they compete in Esports at the
19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China.
Dialog Axiata is proud to sponsor Sri Lanka’s National Cricket, Volleyball and Netball teams.
The Company also has a close association with the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National
Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, Schools Rugby League and Knockout Trophies, Premier
Football, Junior Volleyball and Paralympic sports – whilst also powering the Army Para Games,
National Para Games and the Sri Lankan contingent to the Olympic and World Paralympic
Games.
Gamer.LK, Sri Lanka’s premier Esports company is the Strategic Partner for the National
Esports Team. At the forefront of Sri Lanka’s Esports industry, Gamer.LK’s consistent efforts in
organising Esports tournaments and activities have caused a rapid growth in Sri Lankan Esports
over the last decade.
ABOUT SRI LANKA ESPORTS ASSOCIATION
The Sri Lanka Esports Association (SLESA) is the official governing body for Esports in Sri
Lanka and recognised by the Ministry of Sports. SLESA was founded in 2012 by Gamer.LK
along with 4 founding members and has continued to pave the way for the sport to grow in the
country in a systematic manner which has been recognised even internationally.