Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage says the government has already laid a strong foundation to realize the aspirations of Mission Olympic 2028, with unprecedented measures introduced to uplift sports within a short period since assuming office.
Speaking at the opening of the newly constructed sports pavilion at the Kuliyapitiya Presidential Shilpa Kala Shalika Grounds, the Minister said 140 national‑level athletes have been selected to receive financial incentives under four categories targeting the 2028 Olympic Games.
In the first category, each athlete receives a monthly allowance of Rs. 210,000, with several athletes including Rumesha Tharanga among the beneficiaries. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s sports history, coaches are also being given monthly allowances, with a first‑category coach receiving Rs. 100,000 per month.
Additionally, more than 1,500 school athletes are being provided Rs. 10,000 each, while 380 national‑level athletes are receiving Rs. 60,000 each as a nutrition allowance.
The Minister’s remarks came during the inauguration of the new pavilion, built under the North Western Province Specific Development Head of the Department of Sports Development.
Construction was carried out in two phases: Rs. 18.39 million in 2025 and Rs. 20.64 million in 2026, bringing the total expenditure to approximately Rs. 39.03 million. A further Rs. 6.80 million has been allocated in 2026 for landscaping the surrounding environment.
Minister Gamage said these investments, combined with financial support for athletes and coaches, demonstrate the government’s commitment to producing more national and international‑level sportsmen and women from the North Western Province and across the country. (Newswire)