LPL Terminates Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers Franchises

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially ended the association with two Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchises, the Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers. This decision arrives in advance of the 2025 season, provisionally slated for July and August.

This move highlights the LPL’s persistent difficulties in securing stable, long-term franchise ownership.

Entering its fifth year, the league no longer retains any of its initial five team owners.

Jaffna Kings possessed the most enduring ownership, having entered the league in its second season. Following their departure, the Jaffna franchise, which has won three of the four LPL tournaments held, will now transition to its third distinct ownership group.

The Colombo franchise, formerly known as Colombo Kings and Colombo Stars, is poised for its fourth ownership transition.

As a result of these changes, none of the LPL franchises have ownership dating back prior to 2024. The remaining teams, Galle Marvels, Dambulla Sixers, and Kandy Falcons, all joined the league with new ownership during the previous year.

SLC stated that the reason for terminating the two franchises was their “failure to meet contractual obligations,” although specific details were not disclosed.

“Sri Lanka Cricket and the IPG Group (the LPL’s organizing partners) are still dedicated to maintaining the integrity, standards, and success of the Lanka Premier League,” the board stated in its release.

The official dates for the LPL’s 2025 season are yet to be determined.