What is the official national sport of Sri Lanka?

The official national sport of Sri Lanka is volleyball. It was formally chosen by the government in 1991, but it is only part of the picture. Cricket is hugely more popular, deeply wired into the day-to-day life of the people, and widely viewed by the population as the unofficial national obsession.

Volleyball was picked mainly because it is easy to access; it needs minimal gear, and it can be played in rural villages without costly stuff. Still, the nation’s real passion runs towards cricket, above all after its 1996 Cricket World Cup win. You will find improvised cricket games going on at beaches, in tight alleyways, and on school grounds everywhere across the island.