Rebuilding Sri Lanka’s cricket will take time but will be achieved: Sports Minister

April 7, 2026 at 10:57 PM

Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage told Parliament that rebuilding Sri Lanka’s cricketing standards will take time, stressing that long-term planning is needed to restore the sport to its former level.

He said the decline in sports, including cricket, has been ongoing for more than a decade and cannot be reversed within a short period.

“Developing athletes and strengthening a sport require time; it cannot be done hastily or fast-tracked like building a building,” he said.

The minister said the government has already developed a structured programme aimed at reviving Sri Lankan cricket and is working according to its agenda.

Gamage also dismissed allegations from opposition groups, stating that the programme is focused on long-term results.

“We will definitely bring Sri Lanka cricket back to where it once was. There is no need for any doubt about that,” he said. (NewsWire)