- Royal Strikers crowned champions as Red Deer United secure runner-up position
The spirit of Sri Lankan cricket, community, and camaraderie was celebrated in grand style as the Royal Mount Champion Trophy 2026, a highly competitive Tape Ball Cricket Tournament organised by the Royal Mount Cricket Club (RMCC), successfully concluded in Edmonton.
Bringing together 12 teams and cricket enthusiasts from across Alberta, the tournament provided an exciting platform for Sri Lankan players to showcase their talent while creating opportunities to build friendships, strengthen community connections, and celebrate their shared passion for cricket.
After a day of intense and competitive matches, Royal Strikers Cricket emerged as the Royal Mount Champion Trophy 2026 champions, with Red Deer United Cricket finishing as runners-up.
The Royal Mount Champion Trophy 2026 was conceived with a broader vision — to create a welcoming sporting platform where Sri Lankans living in Alberta could come together through their shared love of cricket.
For RMCC, providing opportunities for Sri Lankan players, particularly those who are new to Alberta, to participate in cricket and develop friendships and community connections remains a key priority.
The tournament demonstrated how sport can transcend the boundaries of competition and become a powerful means of bringing communities together.
Families attended the event to support their loved ones, friends reunited, and spectators enjoyed an atmosphere that reflected the warmth and enthusiasm of Sri Lankan sporting culture.
For many participants and spectators, the event offered more than a day of cricket. It provided an opportunity to reconnect with a familiar sense of friendship, belonging, and community — thousands of kilometres away from Sri Lanka.
Speaking about the success of the tournament, RMCC Captain and Tape Ball Trophy Organising Committee Chairman Nimnuwan Attanayake emphasised the importance of community support in making the event a success.
He noted that the tremendous support received from the Sri Lankan community and the Alberta business community played a significant role in bringing the tournament to life.
RMCC continues to encourage Sri Lankans with a passion for cricket to become involved, regardless of whether they have extensive previous playing experience. Through this inclusive approach, the club aims to create opportunities for both experienced players and newcomers to participate in the sport and become part of the wider cricketing community.
Adding to the community perspective, Ranjan Welgamage, a prominent commentator at Sri Lankan cricket tournaments held throughout Alberta, reflected on the unique experience created by events such as the Royal Mount Champion Trophy.
He highlighted how cricket can help Sri Lankans living abroad reconnect with the friendship and sense of unity associated with playing cricket back home.
“The vibe you had when playing back home as a kid is not quite the same here. But coming here, getting to know new friends, organising a tournament like this, and coming together with our families to enjoy it is really something special.”
His comments captured the broader significance of the tournament — creating a space where sport, friendship, families, and community come together.
The Royal Mount Champion Trophy 2026 ultimately became more than a sporting competition. It evolved into a celebration of Sri Lankan community spirit, bringing together individuals and families from across Alberta through a shared passion for cricket.
The tournament once again demonstrated the important role that community sporting events can play in strengthening relationships, welcoming newcomers, creating friendships, and preserving cultural connections among Sri Lankans living in Canada.
Nimnuwan Attanayake and the Royal Mount Cricket Club Organising Committee extend their sincere and heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of the Royal Mount Champion Trophy 2026.
Special thanks are extended to all sponsors, business partners, players, participating teams, organising committee members, volunteers, supporters, families, spectators, and members of the Sri Lankan community whose generous support and participation made the tournament possible.
Their contribution played an invaluable role in creating a successful and memorable event for the Sri Lankan community in Alberta.
Tournament awards
- Champions: Royal Strikers Cricket
- Runners-up: Red Deer United Cricket
- Player of the Series: Anushka Dayarathna – Royal Strikers Cricket
- Best Batsman: Naveen Dias – Red Deer United Cricket
- Best Bowler: Dilanka Abeywardane
