Media Release

22nd October 2026

Sri Lanka Cricket awarded certificates to 51 newly qualified umpires who passed the Level 5 examination, the entry-level qualification for umpiring in Sri Lanka.

The group comprises 47 males and four female umpires, who will now have the opportunity to officiate at District and Provincial tournaments organized by Sri Lanka Cricket.

Their addition forms part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s ongoing efforts to ensure an adequate number of match officials are available to officiate at School, District, Provincial level competitions.

The newly qualified umpires have entered a development pathway that offers opportunities to progress towards international umpiring, based on their commitment and performance.

Beginning at Level 5, umpires can advance through Levels 4, 3 and 2 before progressing to First Class status.

Sri Lanka Cricket regularly maintains a 20 member First Class Umpiring Panel and serves as the pool from which umpires are nominated for consideration for the ICC International Panel of Umpires.

The award ceremony took place recently at Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters with the participation of Mr. Asoka De Silva, a former Sri Lanka cricketer and former ICC Elite Panel umpire who currently serves on the Domestic Cricket Committee, and Mr. Lyndon Hannibal, a former ICC umpire who currently serves as Sri Lanka Cricket’s Senior Manager, Umpire Development.