World Netball (WN) on Sunday (21) officially removed Sri Lanka from the on-going Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) 2025 in Gibraltar, UK after failing to secure visas on time, compelling the team to forfeit all of its group stage matches.
World Netball – the sport’s global controlling body based in England, thus declared on its website that both Sri Lanka and Zambia had been removed from the tournament “due to unresolved matters” surrounding their participation.
As a consequence, their scheduled fixtures have been recorded as forfeits, with opponents awarded two points in line with competition rules.
Though, a source from the Sports Ministry said that they were yet to be officially informed by WN of Sri Lanka being withdrawn from the tournament.
He added that till such a decision is taken to the ministry he would not be able to comment on it officially, but agreed that the team’s failure to secure visas on time to Gibraltar, had brought about the current difficulty.
Sri Lanka had been planned to play in Pool C against England, Jamaica, and Tonga. Organisers confirmed that England, Jamaica, and Tonga would each be credited with wins. Zambia’s opponents in Pool A also received points for forfeited matches.
It has been reported that visa delays had prevented the Sri Lankan squad from travelling to Gibraltar in time for the opening matches.
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory, and players were required to obtain visas over the British High Commission in Colombo.
Zambian officials cited similar problems. World Netball did not comment on the specific reasons but said it regretted the outcome.
“WN recognises the disappointment this outcome will bring to teams and fans and remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka and Zambia’s ongoing involvement in international netball,” the governing body said in a media statement.
Sri Lanka had qualified for the event after being placed third at the 2023 Asian Youth Netball Championship in South Korea.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage had temporarily suspended the registration of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) last July, and brought it under the purview of the Sports Ministry.
This was done to amend its constitution in line with the recently gazetted Sports Law and pave the way for the election of office bearers.
After the suspension obligatory on the NFSL, the Ministry of Sports and the Sports Development Department affiliated to it has been tasked with managing essential governance issues.
The NWYC, featuring under-21 teams from across the globe, runs from 19-28 September in Gibraltar.
Sinhala 
English