FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Trivia Questions and Answers
photo of        Sri Lanka

50 Sri Lanka Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Sri Lanka? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Sri Lanka (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Cricket    Test Cricket    ICC World Cup    Cricket Challenge    Australia    Twenty20 Cricket   
1 In which year did Sri Lanka first win an Asia Cup away from home?
Answer: 2008

Sri Lanka's first three Asia Cup wins were all on home turf. In Pakistan in 2008, Sanath Jayasuriya and Ajantha Mendis helped Sri Lanka to their first Asian title abroad.
    Your options: [ 1986 ] [ 2000 ] [ 2014 ] [ 2008 ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
2 Which Sri Lankan won the Player of the Series award in the 1996 ICC World Cup?
Answer: Sanath Jayasuriya

While Aravinda de Silva was Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in the tournament, aggressive and innovative batting at the top of the order from Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana provided the platform for Sri Lanka's batting success in the tournament. Furthermore, Jayasuriya's defensive off-spin was a key component of Sri Lanka's bowling attack.
    Your options: [ Chaminda Vaas ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Sanath Jayasuriya ] [ Muttiah Muralidaran ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
3 Who was Sri Lanka's first Test captain?
Answer: Bandula Warnapura

Warnapura captained SL's first 4 Tests.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
4 In which year did Sri Lanka first fail to qualify for an Asia Cup final?
Answer: 2012

Apart from the inaugural event in 1984, which didn't have a final, Sri Lanka played in every final until 2012. The packed schedule which had preceded the the 2012 tournament - where they had played Pakistan in the UAE and toured South Africa and Australia in four months - took its toll. Sri Lanka lost all of their league stage matches - including their first Asia Cup loss to Bangladesh - and finished last.
Bangladesh and Pakistan played in the 2012 final.
    Your options: [ 2000 ] [ 1988 ] [ 1995 ] [ 2012 ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
5 Which batsman was Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in the tournament with 448 runs?
Answer: Aravinda de Silva

Aravinda de Silva was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's middle order in this tournament. de Silva helped Sri Lanka build on the fast starts provided by Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana and post imposing scores when batting first, and complete challenging run chases when batting second.
    Your options: [ Romesh Kaluwitharana ] [ Sanath Jayasuriya ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Asanka Gurusingha ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
6 Which pair put on the the partnership record for Sri Lanka in ODI of 237?
Answer: ST Jayasuriya & MS Atapattu

Atapattu (101 off 124) and Jayasuriya (122 off 105) put on 237 for the opening partnership in 33.4 overs against the Australians in 2003 in a VB series game.
    Your options: [ DPMD Jayawardene & KC Sangakkara ] [ PA de Silva & A Ranatunga ] [ ST Jayasuriya & PA de Silva ] [ ST Jayasuriya & MS Atapattu ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
7 Which great Sri Lankan family produced 3 Test-playing brothers?
Answer: Ranatunga

Arjuna is known to everyone, Sanjeeva was an elegant left-handed batsman in the mid 90's, and Dhammika was a solid opener who played two Test v Australia in 1989. To my knowledge, none of the De Silvas who have played for SL are related. Muttiah Muralitharan has taken enough wickets for a whole family, but he is a one-off (in more ways than one).
    Your options: [ De Silva ] [ Ranatunga ] [ Ratnayake ] [ Muralitharan ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
8 Which Sri Lankan batsman was the leading run-scorer in the 1997 tournament?
Answer: Arjuna Ranatunga

Ranatunga scored 272 runs in the tournament. His unbeaten 131 in the league stage match against India is his highest ODI score.
    Your options: [ Kumar Sangakkara ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Sanath Jayasuriya ] [ Arjuna Ranatunga ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
9 Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) played its first international match in 1932 against India. What was the result?
Answer: Draw

India hosted Sri Lanka (Ceylon) for two First Class matches in December 1932. Sri Lanka had the better of the first match, taking a 69-run first innings lead. After being set 271 to win, India slumped to 207 for 7, but escaped with a draw.
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
10 Aravinda de Silva scored an ODI career-high 145 runs in Sri Lanka's group stage fixture against which opposition?
Answer: Kenya

Aravinda de Silva, Asanka Gurusingha and Arjuna Ranatunga all cashed on Kenya's dismal bowling display, after Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharana provided a rapid start in an opening stand of 83.
    Your options: [ Scotland ] [ Nederlands ] [ Kenya ] [ Zimbabwe ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
11 When Sri Lanka broke the Test innings run record, Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340. Who was the batsman that scored 225 and established a new Test partnership record with him?
Answer: Roshan Mahanama

Mahanama was a very under-rated player throughout his career. (By the way, does anyone remember when they started using entrance music for incoming batsmen, and for poor old Roshan, they used The Muppets' 'Mahna Mahna'?!)
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
12 Which Sri Lankan bowler was the 2008 tournament's leading wicket-taker?
Answer: Ajantha Mendis

Mendis played a starring role in the final, and finished with 17 wickets in the tournament.
    Your options: [ Chaminda Vaas ] [ Lasith Malinga ] [ Muttiah Muralidaran ] [ Ajantha Mendis ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
13 The first season of domestic/club cricket in Sri Lanka was in which year?
Answer: 1938

The first edition of the Daily News Trophy was in 1938. Kalutara Town Club were the inaugural champions. In subsequent years, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) emerged as the powerhouse of Sri Lankan domestic cricket. The tournament is now known as the Premier League.
    Your options: [ 1938 ] [ 1948 ] [ 1928 ] [ 1958 ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
14 Sri Lanka defeated which team in the quarter finals?
Answer: England

The match marked the end of a thoroughly disappointing tournament for England, who failed to win a single match against an elite level opponent.
    Your options: [ West Indies ] [ Pakistan ] [ England ] [ New Zealand ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
15 Who was the first Sri Lankan bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket?
Answer: Nuwan Zoysa

Zoysa accomplished this feat against Zimbabwe in 2001, taking first ball ducks of Gripper, Goodwin, and Johnson.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
16 How many Tests did Sri Lanka play before winning their first Test?
Answer: 13

Their first Test win was v India in 1985-86.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
17 Which Sri Lankan was the first to win the Man of the Tournament award in an Asia Cup?
Answer: Arjuna Ranatunga

Ranatunga won the award in the second edition of the tournament in 1986. He won it again in 1997.
    Your options: [ Sanath Jayasuriya ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Muttiah Muralidaran ] [ Arjuna Ranatunga ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
18 Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Tamil Nadu (Madras) played for which trophy in First Class cricket between the 1953-54 and 1982-83 seasons?
Answer: M. J. Gopalan Trophy

The trophy was named after Morappakam Josyam Gopalan, a Tamil Nadu sportsman who represented India in both cricket and field hockey. The tournament was a regular fixture in Sri Lanka's cricketing calendar in its pre-Test era. It was briefly revived in 2007, when a Sri Lanka XI comprising players from the A-team and under-19's level hosted Tamil Nadu in a one-off match.
    Your options: [ M. J. Gopalan Trophy ] [ S. Saravanamuttu Trophy ] [ P. Saravanamuttu Trophy ] [ Indo-Ceylonese Cup ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
19 The semi-final match in Calcutta (Kolkata) was the second match between India and Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup. The two sides also faced each other in New Delhi in the group stage. What was the result of this unofficial two-match series?
Answer: Sri Lanka won 2 - 0

Sanath Jayasuriya scored a rapid half-century, before an unbeaten 131-run stand between Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillakaratna guided Sri Lanka to a 6-wicket victory in New Delhi. The Semi-final in Culcutta (Kolkata) was abandoned with India on 120 for 8 in pursuit of 252 for victory. India's poor batting display on a wearing pitch sparked riots in the stands, resulting in the match being called off and Sri Lanka being awarded victory by default.
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
20 Sri Lanka scored a massive 398 for 5 in 50 overs in an ODI. Who was their opponent?
Answer: Kenya

Lankans won this game by 144 runs in the 1996 World Cup. Aravinda de Silva top scored with 145.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
21 Which Sri Lankan spinner went on to become a respected Test Umpire?
Answer: Asoka De Silva

Asoka played 8 Tests in the early 90s, and has been appointed to the 'elite' Umpires' Panel.
    Your options: [ Somachandra De Silva ] [ Asoka De Silva ] [ Jayantha Silva ] [ Ranjan Madugalle ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
22 Which country town in Sri Lanka hosted the entire 2010 tournament?
Answer: Dambulla

Organisers had been concerned that the tournament might be affected by monsoonal rain if matches were held in the traditional centres of Colombo, Galle and Kandy.
    Your options: [ Kurunegala ] [ Polonnaruwa ] [ Matale ] [ Dambulla ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
23 In which year did Sri Lanka play its first official international match?
Answer: 1975

Sri Lanka's opening match of the 1975 ICC World Cup against West Indies was its first official international cricket match. The match was won by the West Indies, after Sri Lanka were skittled for just 86.
    Your options: [ 1975 ] [ 1953 ] [ 1932 ] [ 1982 ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
24 Australia and which other country chose to forfeit their group stage matches against Sri Lanka due to security fears?
Answer: West Indies

Sri Lanka's status as a co-host of the tournament had been dogged with controversy from the beginning, with questions being raised about the country's ability to guarantee the security of touring teams. Following a terrorist attack by ethnic-Tamil rebels on the Central Bank in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo in January 1996, the cricket boards of Australia and West Indies announced that they would not send their teams to Sri Lanka. After much deliberation, the ICC ruled that Australia and West Indies had forfeit the matches, and Sri Lanka was awarded the first round points associated with the matches.
    Your options: [ South Africa ] [ England ] [ West Indies ] [ New Zealand ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
25 Who was Sri Lanka's first Test captain?
Answer: Warnapura

Bandula Warnapura led Sri Lanka in all 4 tests that he played. He eventually was banned from Sri Lankan cricket for touring South Africa with the rebel team in 1982-83.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
26 Who was the first Sri Lankan batsman to score 100 in each innings of a Test?
Answer: Duleep Mendis

Mendis scored 105 in each innings v India at Madras in 1982-83.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
27 In which year did Sri Lanka first complete a 'grand slam' - win every match - in an Asia Cup?
Answer: 1997

The 1990s world-beating Sri Lankan side grand slam-ed Asia in 1997 to reclaim Asian bragging rights after 11 years. The feat was repeated by Sri Lanka in 2014. Pakistan became the second nation to slam Asia in the year 2000.
    Your options: [ 1995 ] [ 1986 ] [ 2014 ] [ 1997 ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
28 In which year did Sri Lanka win its first ICC event?
Answer: 1979

Sri Lanka won the inaugural ICC Trophy in 1979. Known colloquially as the "minnows' World Cup", the tournament is the final round of qualifiers for the ICC World Cup. In 2009, it was renamed the ICC World Cup Qualifier.
    Your options: [ 1979 ] [ 2014 ] [ 1996 ] [ 2002 ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
29 In the final, Australia claimed both Sri Lankan openers cheaply, before Sri Lanka recovered thanks to a 125-run partnership between Aravinda de Silva and which other batsman?
Answer: Asanka Gurusingha

Several dropped catches from Australia's usually reliable fieldsmen helped de Silva and Gurusingha rebuild Sri Lanka's innings. Gurusingha was eventually dismissed for 65, while de Silva finished unbeaten on 107.
    Your options: [ Arjuna Ranatunga ] [ Hashan Tillakaratna ] [ Asanka Gurusingha ] [ Roshan Mahanama ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
30 Pick the odd man out from the following Sri Lankan bowlers.
Answer: Don Anurasiri

Don Anurasiri is the only slow bowler among the bunch. The rest are medium to fast pace bowlers. Anurasiri has a stingy 2.33 economy rate in Test cricket after 18 matches. He was also the only southpaw among the bunch.
    Your options: [ Promodya Wickramasinghe ] [ Champaka Ramanayake ] [ Ravindra Pushpakumara ] [ Don Anurasiri ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
31 Which Sri Lankan was the 4th player to score a double century on Test debut?
Answer: Brendon Kuruppu

Kuruppu scored 201 not out v New Zealand in 1986-87. Amazingly, he only played 3 further Tests! By the way, the other three are R.E.Foster (287 for England), Lawrence Rowe (214 for WI), and Matthew Sinclair (214 for NZ).
    Your options: [ Sanath Jayasuriya ] [ Brendon Kuruppu ] [ Asanka Gurusinha ] [ Arjuna Ranatunga ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
32 Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis starred for Sri Lanka in the 2008 Asia Cup final, taking how many wickets?
Answer: 6

Mendis took 6 for 13 in the match, and finished with 17 wickets in the tournament. He won both the Man of the Match and Man of the Tournament awards on the night.
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
33 Having attained Test status in 1981, Sri Lanka played its inaugural Test match against which team in February 1982?
Answer: England

Sri Lanka's first ever Test was against a second-string England side at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo. After a competitive start from Sri Lanka, England overpowered the home side in the second innings to win the match comfortably by 7 wickets.
    Your options: [ England ] [ Pakistan ] [ India ] [ New Zealand ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
34 In the final, which Sri Lankan spinner dismissed Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting to spark an Australian collapse of 6 for 68, and finished with match figures of 3 for 42?
Answer: Aravinda de Silva

At 137 for 1, Australia had looked set for a big total. However, a disciplined display of defensive spin from Sri Lanka succeeded in dragging down Australia's run-rate. As the scoring rate declined, the pressure to score started to take it's toll. An error-riddled Australia slumped to 205 for 7, before limping to 241 for 7.
    Your options: [ Kumar Dharmasena ] [ Muttiah Muralidaran ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Chaminda Vaas ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
35 Who was the first debutant to score a century for Sri Lanka?
Answer: Brendon Kuruppu

Kuruppu made 201* against New Zealand and ended up playing only 4 Test matches.
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Greats
36 Sri Lanka hasn't been noted for it's All-Rounders, but one who bordered on world class played 22 Tests up until 1990, scored 807 runs at 25, and took 56 wickets at 35. Who is he?
Answer: Ravi Ratnayeke

Ratnayeke was one of the mainstays of SL cricket in the 80s. He even opened the batting and bowling in the same match!
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
37 Which Sri Lankan took a hat-trick in the 2010 league stage fixture against India at Dambulla?
Answer: Farveez Maharoof

Farveez had been a late inclusion in the side, after Sri Lanka's regular all-rounder, Angelo Mathews, had been ruled out with a calf injury. He certainly made the most of the opportunity, taking 5 for 42 to help Sri Lanka bowl India out for just 209. His hat-trick victims were Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan. Farveez was the fierst Sri Lankan to have taken an Asia Cup hat-trick.
    Your options: [ Chaminda Vaas ] [ Tillakaratna Dilshan ] [ Lasith Malinga ] [ Farveez Maharoof ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup
38 Sri Lanka's maiden Test series win was in 1985 against which opponent?
Answer: India

Sri Lanka hosted and won a three-Test series against India 1-0 in 1985 (aka one win and two draws). Sri Lanka's win in the second Test was also its first ever Test match victory.
    Your options: [ India ] [ New Zealand ] [ Pakistan ] [ West Indies ]
  From Quiz: Did You Know...
39 In the final, which batsman hit a boundary with scores level to win the match for Sri Lanka?
Answer: Arjuna Ranatunga

With scores level, Ranatunga guided the second ball of the 47th over from Glenn McGrath through the vacant slips cordon to the boundary. Ranatunga finished unbeaten on 47, having put on an unbeaten 97 for the 4th wicket with Aravinda de Silva.
    Your options: [ Hashan Tillakaratna ] [ Aravinda de Silva ] [ Arjuna Ranatunga ] [ Roshan Mahanama ]
  From Quiz: Triumphant '96
40 Which former Sri Lankan Test captain became an ICC referee?
Answer: Ranjan Madugalle

Madugalle captained 2 Tests in 1987-88, between Mendis and Ranatunga.
    Your options: [ Duleep Mendis ] [ Ranjan Madugalle ] [ Arjuna Ranatunga ] [ Bandula Warnapura ]
  From Quiz: Sri Lankan Test Cricket
The rest of the questions and answers can be found in our quizzes here:
Sri Lanka Quizzes