Tennis was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British. The History of the association began when a few planters and tennis enthusiasts met together to foam the Ceylon Lawn Tennis Association in 1915. His Excellency Governor Sir Robert Chalmers, then, the head of the land was the President of the association. The Association continued to have governors as it's presidents till 1946. Governor being busy with state affairs, the responsibility for managing the association fell on the shoulders of the Secretary, Mr. R.g. Coombs, who later elected to vice president and president. The Association was managed by a general committee and a District committee represented by Uva, Dickoya, Nuwara eliya, Gampola, Dambulla, Kandy, Ratnapura,, Colombo, Galle, Kelani Vallyey, Kalutara districts and the Services represented by the Army and Navy.

The Association had its headquarters at the "Chalet" in Nuwara Ellya.It conducted a number of tournaments on the courts of Colombo Lawn club, situated at Victoria Park on the Municipal Council Property. When the Municipal council wanted to expand it's park, the lawn club members were asked to seek membership of the adjoining Garden club. The members faced tough situation as the Garden club was the exclusive preserve of the European community. However on the intervention of the Mayor of Colombo, the lease of the Garden club was terminated and the tennis courts were made available to the Lawn Tennis Association in 1954 during the presidency of T.E. De Silva.

The year 1971 saw a major change in the constitution of the Association initiated by the President M. T. Thiruchittampalam, The association then composed of individual members with voting rights and representatives of affiliated clubs with out voting rights. This naturally did not meet the needs of a national body and hence numerous changes were incorporated. Today it is known as the Sri Lanka Tennis Association. Two years back, under the presidency of Mr. Lalith Within, a restructuring of the association was affected. The affairs of the Association are being managed by the president and a general committee elected by the membership at the annual general meeting. A Chief Executive Officer by the Association, is responsible for the administration of the office