Sri Lanka Esports Association (SLESA) is set to conduct the Esports Nationals, the official national team selection qualifiers, as the country begins preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Games 2026, where Esports will be featured as a medal event.
Recognised as the national governing body for Esports in Sri Lanka, SLESA continues to develop the country’s competitive Esports structure through a performance-based selection pathway. The Esports Nationals will serve as the primary national qualifier, identifying top players across multiple titles and formats.
The April 2026 edition of the Esports Nationals will feature competitions in titles such as PUBG MOBILE, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings and eFootball. In addition, titles featured in the Asian Games, including Identity V and Naraka: Bladepoint, will also be part of the competition.
Participants will compete for a place in the National Player Pool, which forms the basis for national team selection. Under SLESA’s selection framework, players qualify through top-three finishes at the Esports Nationals and through the National Esports Rankings, a points-based system that tracks consistent performances across recognised tournaments in Sri Lanka.
From this pool, the National Selection Committee appointed by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs will finalise the national teams for each title, with selected players representing Sri Lanka at international events.
“Esports Nationals represents the defining pathway for Sri Lankan athletes to earn the honour of national selection and represent the country on the global stage. For many, wearing the national jersey in Esports was once a distant dream and today, that dream is realised through a structured and competitive system built on performance, consistency and excellence. It also plays a critical role in preparing athletes for global competition, particularly as Sri Lanka sets its sights on events such as the Asian Games. This platform ensures that only the very best are chosen to carry Sri Lanka forward,” said SLESA Secretary Ramesh Liyanage.
Dialog Axiata PLC continues its role as the official sponsor of the national Esports team, supporting the development of players and the wider Esports ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
SLESA stated that it remains committed to strengthening Esports in the country by providing structured competitive opportunities, supporting talent development, and enabling athletes to compete at international level.