[2] Three Sri Lankan athletes previously competed in London, including rifle shooter Mangala Samarakoon and badminton player Niluka Karunaratne.

Meanwhile, veteran marathon runner Anuradha Cooray, who attended his third Olympics as the oldest and most experienced participant (aged 38), was selected by the committee to carry the Sri Lankan flag at the opening ceremony.

[5][6] Sri Lanka received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a judoka competing in the men's lightweight category (73 kg), signifying the nation's Olympic debut in the sport.

[7] Sri Lanka received an invitation from the Tripartite Commission to send a men's rifle shooter to the Olympics, as long as the minimum qualifying score (MQS) was met by March 31, 2016.

[14] Sri Lanka received an unused quota place from IWF to send a male weightlifter, signifying the nation's return to the sport after an eight-year hiatus.