Editing Sri Lanka (section)

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Sport in Sri Lanka}}
[[File:The_clouds_roll_in.jpg|thumb|[[R. Premadasa Stadium]] in [[Colombo]]]]
While the [[national sport]] is [[volleyball]], by far the most popular sport in the country is [[Cricket]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/10/02/spo12.asp |title=Can Sri Lanka form an invincible cricket team? |author=Gurusinghe, Nimal |work=The Daily News |date=2 October 2008}}</ref> [[Rugby union]] also enjoys extensive popularity,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/25/rugby-sri-lanka-asias-little-known-rugby-haven.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408233643/http://dawn.com/2011/05/25/rugby-sri-lanka-asias-little-known-rugby-haven/ |archive-date=8 April 2012 |title=Rugby: Sri Lanka, Asia's little-known rugby haven |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] | date=25 May 2011}}</ref> as do [[association football]], [[netball]] and [[tennis]]. Aquatic sports such as boating, surfing, swimming, kitesurfing<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kitesurfingsrilanka.com/ |title=Kitesurf Sri Lanka |publisher=kitesurfingsrilanka.com |access-date=20 November 2011 |archive-date=6 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206111947/http://www.kitesurfingsrilanka.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[scuba diving]] attract many Sri Lankans and foreign tourists. There are two styles of martial arts native to Sri Lanka: [[Cheena di]] and [[Angampora]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinhalaya.com/srilankatravelguide/ac_martial_arts_lanka.php |title=Sri Lankan martial arts |publisher=sinhalaya.com |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125023655/http://www.sinhalaya.com/srilankatravelguide/ac_martial_arts_lanka.php |archive-date=25 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN (5155181205).jpg|right|thumb|170px|[[Muttiah Muralitharan]] holds the record for the highest number of [[Wicket#Dismissing a batsman|wickets]] in [[Test cricket]].<ref name="Muralitharan">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/49636.html|title=Player Profile: Muttiah Muralitharan|website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|access-date=30 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213191453/http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/49636.html|archive-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>|alt=Muttiah Muralitharan]]

The [[Sri Lanka national cricket team]] achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from [[underdog (competition)|underdog]] status to winning the [[1996 Cricket World Cup]], defeating [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in the final on 17 March 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricketworldcup2007/story/0,,2016636,00.html |title=Sri Lanka light up the world |author=Selvey, Mike |work=[[The Guardian]] | date=18 March 1996 |place=London}}</ref> They also won the [[2014 ICC World Twenty20]] played in Bangladesh, beating India in the final. In addition, Sri Lanka became the runners-up of the [[Cricket World Cup]] in [[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/247507.html |title=Final: Australia v Sri Lanka at Bridgetown, Apr&nbsp;28, 2007 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |author-link=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> and [[2011 Cricket World Cup Final|2011]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9444277.stm |title=India power past Sri Lanka to Cricket World Cup triumph |author=Sheringham, Sam |publisher=BBC |date=2 April 2011}}</ref> and of the [[ICC World Twenty20]] in [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|2009]] and [[2012 ICC World Twenty20|2012]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/410042.html |title=Afridi fifty seals title for Pakistan |author=McGlashan, Andrew |date=21 June 2009 |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> Former Sri Lankan [[Off spin|off-spinner]] [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] has been rated as the greatest [[Test cricket|test match]] [[bowler (cricket)|bowler]] ever by ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/2572069.stm |title=Murali 'best bowler ever' |work=[[BBC]] Sport |date=13 December 2002 |place=London}}</ref> and four Sri Lankan cricketers ranked 2nd ([[Kumar Sangakkara|Sangakkara]]), 4th ([[Sanath Jayasuriya|Jayasuriya]]), 5th ([[Mahela Jayawardene|Jayawardene]]) and 11th ([[Tillakaratne Dilshan|Dilshan]]) highest ODI run scorers of all time, which is the second best by a team. As of June 2022, Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest aggregate wickets in Test Cricket with a record 800 wickets, a feat he achieved in a Test Match against India in July 2010 that Sri Lanka had won by 10 Wickets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-sri-lanka-2010-455238/sri-lanka-vs-india-1st-test-456669/match-report|title=Murali gets 800, Sri Lanka win by ten wickets|website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|first=Sriram|last=Veera|date=22 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofsports.com/cricket/highest-test-wicket-takers/|title=Top 50 Highest Test Wicket Takers in Cricket History|website=[[Times of Sports]]|date=13 March 2023 }}</ref> Sri Lanka has won the [[Asia Cup]] in 1986,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/47/47039.html |title=John Player Gold Leaf Trophy (Asia Cup) 1985/86 (Final) |date=6 April 1986 |publisher=cricketarchive.co.uk}}</ref> 1997,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151650.html |title=Pepsi Asia Cup, 1997–98 |author=Thawfeeq, Sa'adi |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> 2004,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/134815.html |title=Sri Lanka win the Asia Cup |author=Vasu, Anand |date=1 August 2004 |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> 2008,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/asiacup/content/current/series/298014.html |title=Asia Cup 2008 |date=6 July 2008 |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307220216/http://www.espncricinfo.com/asiacup/content/current/series/298014.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/content/current/series/671665.html |title=Asia Cup 2014 |date=8 March 2014 |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |access-date=4 August 2014 |archive-date=21 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921144658/http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/content/current/series/671665.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2788151 |title=Brilliant Sri Lanka clinch Asia Cup 2022 title|access-date=12 September 2022 |work=International Cricket Council}}</ref> Sri Lanka once held the highest team score in all three formats of cricket.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.exzoon.com/sri_lanka_national_cricket_team.html |title=Sri Lanka National Cricket Team |publisher=exzoon.com |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101040927/http://www.exzoon.com/sri_lanka_national_cricket_team.html |archive-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The country co-hosted the Cricket World Cup in [[1996 Cricket World Cup|1996]] and [[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011]] and hosted the [[2012 ICC World Twenty20]].

Sri Lankans have won two medals at [[Olympic Games]]: one silver, by [[Duncan White]] at the [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London Olympics]] for men's [[400 metres hurdles]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/06/12/spo09.asp |title=Duncan White – the greatest Sri Lankan athlete |date=12 June 2008 |work=The Daily News}}</ref> and one silver by [[Susanthika Jayasinghe]] at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]] for women's [[200 metres]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/susanthika-jayasinghe |title=Athlete Susanthika Jayasinghe |publisher=International Olympic Committee |date=20 June 2016}}</ref> In 1973, [[Muhammad Lafir]] won the [[IBSF World Billiards Championship|World Billiards Championship]], the highest feat by a Sri Lankan in a [[Cue sports|Cue sport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://print.dailymirror.lk/editorial/106-editorial/12395.html |title=LKY's prejudice |date=7 June 2010 |work=Daily Mirror |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218191441/http://print.dailymirror.lk/editorial/106-editorial/12395.html |archive-date=18 December 2013 }}</ref> Sri Lanka has also won the Carrom World Championship titles twice in 2012, [[2016 Carrom World Championship|2016]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-mens-champions-carrom-world-championship-2016/ |title=Sri Lanka emerged as world champions |date=10 November 2016 |work=Prepare}}</ref> and 2018, the men's team becoming champions and the women's team winning second place. The [[Sri Lankan National Badminton Championships]] was annually held between 1953 and 2011.

Sri Lanka is ranked 6th in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings 2025 with rating 86.<ref>{{Cite web |last=icc |title=ICC Men's Test Team Rankings |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/team-rankings/mens/test |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=icc |language=en}}</ref>

[[Sri Lanka national football team]] also won the prestigious [[1995 South Asian Gold Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://saffederation.org/saff-gold-cup-1995/ |title=SAFF Website |access-date=21 July 2023 |archive-date=18 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918095651/https://saffederation.org/saff-gold-cup-1995/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/saff-gold-cup-1995-sri-lanka/semi-finals/17371/|title=1995 SAFF Championship;globalsport archive.com|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/competitions/south-asian-football-federation-(saff)-championship/1995/|title=1995 SAFF Championship|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold95.html|title=1995 SAFF Championship;RSSSF.com|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/04/04/spo03.asp|title=Lanka hopes to regain supremacy|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>