The S1 League (; ), or simply S1, also known as Sri Lanka Champions League, is the second-tier division of the Sri Lankan football league system. It was succeeded by the professional Sri Lanka Super League which serves as the first division. Until 2019, it was sponsored by Dialog Axiata and was thus officially known as the Dialog Champions League.
The league 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 have won the most titles in the league, winning 12 titles. Rathnam have won the title 5 times, Renown 4 times, and Colombo 3 times. In recent times, different clubs have been able to win the championship title.
History
The competition started in 1985 and has been held every year since. 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 Renown four 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.
Previous winners Champions so far:
SeasonChampionsRunners-up Colombo Football League1985 Saunders SC York SC1986 Saunders SC1987 Saunders SC1988 Old Bens SC Sri Lanka Bristol League1989 Saunders SC1990 Renown SC1991 Saunders SC Ratnam SC1992 Saunders SC1993 Renown SC1994 Renown SC1995 Pettah United SC1996 Saunders SC1997 Saunders SC1997–98 Ratnam SC1998–99 Saunders SC Sri Lanka Premier League1999–2000 Ratnam SC2000–01 Saunders SC Negambo Youth2001–02 Saunders SC Negambo Youth2002–03 Negambo Youth2003–04 Blue Star SC Ratnam SC2004–05 Saunders SC Ratnam SC2005–06 Negambo Youth Ratnam SC2006–07 Ratnam SC Blue Star SC2007–08 Ratnam SC2008–09 Army SC Ratnam SC Sri Lanka Champions League2009–10 Renown SC Air Force SC2010–11 Don Bosco SC Army SC 2011–12 Ratnam SC Army SC 2013–14 Air Force SC Ratnam SC2014–15 Solid SC Colombo FC2015–16 Colombo FC Renown SC2016–17 Colombo FC Renown SC2017–18 Colombo FC Renown SC2018–19 Defenders Colombo FC2021–22 Matara City Javalane2025–26 Pelicans Javalane
Most championships The number of national championships that clubs in Sri Lanka have attained. ClubNumber of Championships Saunders SC12Ratnam SC5Renown SC4Colombo FC3Negambo Youth2Defenders (previously Army SC)2Old Bens SC1Pettah United SC1Blue Star SC1Don Bosco SC1Air Force SC1Solid SC1Matara City1Pelicans1
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 Football Sri Lanka TV.
Stadiums
Most of the clubs in this league haven't any FIFA Standard Stadiums. So most of the matches are played in the 25,000-capacity Sugathadasa Stadium and Kelaniya Football Complex. Some clubs play their matches in their home stadiums which are located in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya and Kalutara.
Top scorers Year Best scorers Team Goals2003–04 M.A.M. Farzeen Blue Star SC 192006–07 Kasun Jayasuriya Ratnam SC 242007–08 Kasun Jayasuriya Ratnam SC 122008–09 Kasun Jayasuriya Renown SC 132009–10 Mohamed Fazal Renown SC 142014–15 Mohamed Izzadeen Army SC 262015 M.C.M. Rifnaz Renown SC 92016–17 Job Micheal Renown SC 112017–18 Job Micheal Renown SC 19 2025–26 Roger Philippe Saunders SC 10
References
External links League at FIFA League at soccerway.com