Sri Lanka Football Premier League
 | |
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Division I |
| Domestic cup(s) | Sri Lanka FA Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Cup & SAFF Club Championship |
| Current champions | Colombo FC (3rd title), (2017–18) |
| Most championships | Saunders SC (12 titles) |
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The Sri Lanka Football Premier League (currently known under its sponsored name Dialog Champions League) is a Sri Lanka professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Sri Lankan football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 18 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Division I.
The tournament was conducted in various formats.Apart from the league system a playoff stage was included in 2013–14 season.Currently 18 clubs are participated in the tournament.Saunders are the most time champion with (12) titles.Rathnam have won the title (5) times and Renown (4) times and Colombo (3) times.In recent times different clubs have able to win the championship title.
History
The competition was started in 1985 and it was held every year. The 2016 Sri Lanka Football Premier League is the 32nd season of the Sri Lanka Football league. The tournament was conducted in various formats.Apart from the league system a playoff stage was included in the 2013–14 season. Currently 18 clubs participate in the tournament. Saunders are the most time champion with (12) titles. Rathnam have won the title five times and Renownfour times. In recent times different clubs have been able to win the championship title. Colombo have won the title three times and are the current champions.
Competition Format
In the current structure of the league 18 clubs compete for the title. In the first stage the teams are divided into two groups of nine. Those teams compete in a round robin format. The best four teams from each group qualify for the Championship Stage. In that stage the 8 teams compete in a round robin format and the group winner is the champion of the season. The bottom two teams of each group in the first stage are relegated to the Division I.
Qualification for international competitions
The champion of the league will earn the chance to play in the AFC Cup tournament which is organized by Asian Football Confederation. Also they qualify for the SAFF Club Championship. However the title holders didn't compete in any of the above competitions until 2014. The first team to play in the AFC Cup was Colombo FC, which won the title in 2015.
All time Clubs
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Previous winners
Champions so far:[1]
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Most Championships
The number of national championships that clubs in Sri Lanka have attained.
| Club |
Number of Championships |
|---|---|
| Saunders SC | 12 |
| Ratnam SC | 5 |
| Renown SC | 4 |
| Colombo FC | 3 |
| Negambo Youth | 2 |
| Old Bens SC | 1 |
| Pettah United SC | 1 |
| Blue Star SC | 1 |
| Army SC | 1 |
| Don Bosco SC | 1 |
| Air Force SC | 1 |
| Solid SC | 1 |
| Mawanella United | 1 |
2016-17 Season
| Club Name | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Sports Club | Ekala | Ekala Football Ground | 1,000 |
| Blue Star SC | Kalutara | Kalutara Stadium | 15,000 |
| Colombo FC | Colombo | Sugathadasa Stadium | 28,000 |
| Crystal Palace SC | Gampola | Jayathilake Stadium | 5,000 |
| Java Lane SC | Colombo | City Football Complex | 1,000 |
| Matara City SC | Matara | Matara Football Complex | 2,000 |
| Nandimithra SC | Colombo | Kelaniya Football Complex | 1,000 |
| Negambo Youth | Negombo | Maristella Ground | 1,000 |
| New Young's SC | Wennappuwa | Sir Albert F. Peiries Stadium | 5,000 |
| Renown Sports Club | Colombo | Kelaniya Football Complex | 1,000 |
| Saunders SC | Colombo | Kelaniya Football Complex | 1,000 |
| SL Navy SC | Welisara | Navy Ground | 1,000 |
| Solid SC | Anuradhapura | Prison Ground | 2,000 |
| Sri Lanka Army SC | Homagama | Homagama Ground | 5,000 |
| Sri Lanka Police SC | Colombo | Police Ground | 1,000 |
| Super Sun SC | Dharga Town | Zahira College Ground | 1,000 |
| Thihariya Youth SC | Gampaha | Sugathadasa Stadium | 28,000 |
| Up Country Lions SC | Nawalapitiya | Jayathilake Stadium | 5,000 |
Sponsorship
The title sponsor of the current season in Dialog.So the league is known as Dialog Champions League.Other than dialog Cargills also sponsor the previous events.The official ball is supplied by Molten.The official broadcast partner is The papare.com.
Stadiums
Most of the clubs in this league haven't any FIFA Standard Stadiums.So most of the matches are played in Sugathadasa Stadium and Kelaniya Football Complex.Some clubs play their matches in there home stadiums which are located in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya and Kalutara.
Topscorers
| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
| 2003–04 |  | Blue Star SC | 19 |
| 2006–07 | | Ratnam SC | 24 |
| 2007–08 | | Ratnam SC | 12 |
| 2008–09 | | Renown SC | 13 |
| 2009–10 | | Renown SC | 14 |
| 2014–15 | | Army SC | 26 |
| 2015 | M.C.M. Rifnaz[2] | Renown SC | 9 |
| 2016–17 |  | Renown SC | 11 |
| 2017–18 | | Renown SC | 19 |
References
- ↑ "Sri Lanka – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- 1 2 "Colombo FC wins Dialog Champions League". 6 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.