The official concept paper of the National High Performance Centre was formally handed over to Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamagedara at the Ministry of Sports yesterday, marking a key step in advancing Sri Lanka’s sporting ambitions.

The project, designed to elevate the country’s sports sector to international standards and enhance the skills of athletes, is expected to be implemented in a more structured manner through the newly presented concept paper.

The occasion was organized under the leadership of Prasanna Jayalal and saw active participation from members of the Sports Council, the Department of Sports Development, expert committee members, representatives of the Medical Institute, and officials from Sri Lanka Cricket.

Speaking at the event, officials noted: “Through the establishment of this Centre, athletes in the country will be able to access international‑level training facilities, and a new era in the field of sports will be created.”

With the implementation of the concept paper, the groundwork is already being laid to strengthen Sri Lanka’s sports training and scientific background, taking it to a new dimension and ensuring athletes benefit from modern, world‑class facilities. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka is set to showcase its ambition of becoming a global sports tourism hub with the launch of an International Sports Week from August 22 to 28, officially endorsed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that following discussions with Saabir Cader, Founder and Director of Asia Pacific Lions Rugby (APL), and his delegation, full approval and support have been granted for the prestigious event.

According to the Ministry, for the first time in British Premiership Rugby history, the Northampton Saints, featuring 10 English internationals, will tour Sri Lanka. Adding star power, Australian rugby legend David Campese and former Wallabies captain Will Genia will join a lineup of world‑class players.

On August 23, a unique T20 charity cricket match will bring together international rugby stars and Sri Lanka Cricket Legends, blending two sporting cultures for a cause.

The week will also feature international training opportunities for the Sri Lanka XVs squad, “Coach the Coach” programs, and island‑wide community outreach sessions aimed at strengthening grassroots sports.

The tour will culminate on August 28 with the main rugby match at the Colombo Racecourse International Stadium.

The Ministry said that the initiative is designed to promote Sri Lanka as a safe, world‑class sports tourism destination, positioning the island on the global stage through high‑profile international events. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s javelin star Rumesh Tharanga, who recently set a new meet record of 89.28m at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya, met Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage on Monday (27), accompanied by his coach.

According to the Sports Ministry, Rumesh and his coach expressed their gratitude to the Minister for the financial and technical assistance provided through the “Mission Olympic” program. 

Rumesh noted that the support has been a source of strength for athletes striving for international success, including himself. 

Minister Gamage commended Rumesh’s achievements and discussed plans for upcoming tournaments. 

Recognizing his potential to win an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka, the Minister pledged full financial allocations, foreign training, and other facilities.

“Rumesh Tharanga is an athlete who has brought Olympic hope to this country. It is the responsibility of the Ministry to provide maximum support to him and his coach,” Minister Gamage stated. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a clarification regarding the situation that has arisen concerning the use of the Sugathadasa Stadium for a musical concert.

Issuing a statement, the ministry said that the outdoor stadium had been agreed to be provided for a musical concert scheduled to be held on December 28. 

The current running track at the Sugathadasa Stadium is in a dilapidated condition, making it unsuitable for athletic competitions. Consequently, the process of calling for tenders to remove the existing track and reconstruct a new one has already commenced. Due to the presence of potholes and significant wear, the track is currently not utilized for any sporting events, the ministry said. 

The ministry further noted that since the stadium will remain inactive for sports during the upcoming reconstruction period, the management authority agreed to lease the premises for the concert, subject to relevant charges.

“​The responsibility for the event lies with the organizers. Furthermore, the concert will not cause any additional significant damage to the track, as the current surface is already slated for complete removal,” it added. 

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports further condemned the distorted statements made by certain individuals and the unethical, false reporting by some media outlets that portray this event as a major blow to sports and the stadium infrastructure. (Newswire)

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Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has held discussions with the visiting Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, in Colombo.

According to the Sports Ministry, Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thilakaratne also participated in the discussion held yesterday. 

During the meeting, the AFC President pointed out that even though many Asian countries are facing economic corruption, Sri Lanka is moving forward as a country due to the actions of the current government.

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed confidence that the sport of Football will reach a better level as a result.

He further stated that efforts will be made to provide Sri Lanka with an international football stadium with modern facilities in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports for the advancement of football. 

The discussion focused on the necessary future plans in this regard. (Newswire)

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Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage today clapped back at former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, stating that Sri Lanka was still paying a large fine imposed by World Rugby due to an incident during the latter’s rugby playing days.

Addressing Parliament today, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage revealed that the Sports Ministry was paying a fine of 5000 Sterling pounds per year due to the involvement of Fijian players during a Rugby match in 2014.

“In May 2014, during the time when rugby was played by the ‘Babys’, three Fijian players were brought down to play Rugger for Sri Lanka. They were brought to win a match in a tournament in Colombo. When World Rugby came to know about this years later, they imposed a fine of 50,000 Sterling Pounds on Sri Lanka. We are still paying this fine,” the Sports Minister said. 

Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage made the remarks after MP Namal Rajapaksa had mocked his recent visit to a supermarket, instead of looking into Sports Affairs.

Speaking in Parliament, MP Namal Rajapaksa requested the Sports Minister to look into the meals provided at the hostel for national athletes by the Sports Ministry.

“While also visiting supermarkets as a part of your daily household responsibilities, please visit the dorms of the hostel at the Sports Ministry. There is an issue of whether the athletes are being provided nutritional food. We know as ministers you’ll have a lot of work to do. It is difficult to manage these while looking at housework too,” MP Rajapaksa said. 

MP Namal further said the hostel is only 100 metres from the Sports Ministry and requested the Sports Minister to address the matter. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Sports Ministry has refuted claims that the term of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been extended.

Issuing a statement, the ministry clarified that the Minister of Sport or the Ministry of Sport cannot and had not extended the term of Sri Lanka Cricket as erroneously reported in the media. 

The Sports Ministry further said that any Sports Federation must have an election in terms of the provisions of its constitution in electing office-bearers.

Furthermore, the ministry revealed that at present a Committee has been appointed by the Cabinet to draft a new Constitution for SLC headed by retired Supreme Court judge, K T Chithrasiri and once ready the said draft will be presented to the Cabinet. 

“On 3rd May 2024 Regulations were published in the Gazette Number 2382/32 dated 03/05/2024 with regard to all Sports Federations. The said Regulations were published after months of consultations with the stakeholders. Most of the Federations suggested that the term limits as set out earlier create a problem in grooming leadership. Earlier the term of office for a President was 4 years (brought down from 8) and an Exco member was 8 years. These regulations have been challenged in court. The Regulations apply to all levels (District and Provincial), the Sports Ministry said. 

Stating that most sports are unable to find office bearers, the ministry disclosed that therefore the maximum term of office for President or Secretary has been set out as 8 years, while the term of office for Exco members in any capacity is a maximum period of 16 years. 

“The new regulations have also restricted the office bearers to one sports federation. Earlier regulations were ambiguous. However, any Federation can limit the term of office within those maximum terms in their respective constitution,” the Sports Ministry added. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Sports has refuted allegations levelled against Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva at a recent media briefing. 

Issuing a statement, the Ministry said Shammi Silva had accused the Sports Minister of having distributed the funds provided by the SLC to the National Sports Fund to his close associates.

Refuting the allegations, the Sports Ministry has provided details on the transactions of the said funds from the National Sports Fund. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has requested the intervention of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, stating that its day-to-day operations are being affected due to the “deliberate harassment from the sports ministry.”

In a letter addressed to the President, the SLC highlighted the Sports Ministry’s interference in several recent tournaments.

The hosting of the ICC World Cup – Under 19, Lanka T10 Super League, Ex-Co members’ representation, rejection of Japanese opportunities, and participation in the Men’s ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand, Asia Cup Championship 2022 are among the tournaments highlighted by the SLC.

Sri Lanka’s cricket administration has requested a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to address the following issues. 

Responding to the SLC’s letter, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has written to the President, refuting all allegations levelled by the SLC against the Sports Ministry.

In his letter, Sports Minister Ranasinghe pointed out that the conduct of Sri Lanka Cricket has been deplorable in light of the grave allegations and corruption charges that are levelled at them. 

The matter has been brought to the attention of the President due to society-wide pressure seeking the resignation of the board officials for their misconduct and shameful acts, he said. 

The Sports Minister further said that the SLC has repeatedly written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) of political interference to prevent any action against them for their corrupt conduct. 

“I am not prepared to stay silent nor be influenced by various political plots and stay put on the apparent corruption in the institutes that are directly accountable to my ministry,” he added. (NewsWire)

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Several investigative reports related to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the Football Federation Sri Lanka (FFSL) have been handed over to the Special Investigation Unit for Sports Offences of the Ministry of Sports. 

Issuing a statement, the Ministry of Sports stated that the reports were handed over to the Sports Ministry on Tuesday (Oct 03). 

The reports include the special investigation report on the SLC, the special audit report issued by the National Audit Office, the special investigative report on the FFSL, and the internal audit report conducted by the Ministry of Sports.

The reports on SLC consist of the investigation report issued in April 2023 by the five-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Kusala Sarojanee Weerawardena into the alleged malpractices during the 2022 cricket World Cup in Australia and the special audit report issued in this regard by the National Audit Office in September 2023.

The reports on FFSL consist of the special investigative report issued on April 2023, as well as the audit report conducted by the internal audit department of the Ministry of Sports regarding fraud and corruption in the Football Federation.

The reports have been handed over to the Sports Ministry to initiate the necessary legal action against the sports administrations as per the provisions of the Prevention of Offences in Sports Act No. 24 of 2019. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s Sports Ministry has slammed the nation’s cricket administration, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for failing to follow the proper procedure related to the approval of the squad and staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. 

Issuing a statement, the Sports Ministry said that the SLC is required to send in the request for approval of the squad and staff 21 days prior to their departure.

However, a letter signed by SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva requesting for approval, dated September 20, had reached the Sports Development Department on September 21. 

The Sports Ministry stated that despite the weekend, the approval of the National Sports Commission and the Sports Development Department had been obtained and had been reported to the Sports Ministry Secretary by Monday evening (Sep 25).

The Sports Minister had instructed the Ministry Secretary to immediately approve the relevant squad and staff as per SLC’s request.

Pointing out that the lack of time to examine the squad and staff eligibility has deprived other players of a chance to appeal the decision, the Sports Ministry questioned who is to take responsibility in the event a player or staff have faced an injustice.

Stating that the SLC was well aware of the deadline to name the squad for the cricket world cup, the Sports Ministry pointed out that the SLC also had ample time to train and assess the fitness of players. 

The Sports Ministry further stated that if the SLC had requested for approval 21 days prior to the team’s departure, the ministry would have had time to assess the staff and the players eligibility in order to send a proper team.

The SLC’s request for approval of the squad days before their departure has prevented the Sports Ministry from dispatching a suitable team for the tournament, the Ministry added.

The Sports Ministry issued the clarification after several persons had taken to social media accusing the Ministry of delaying the team approval procedure, cutting it close to the deadline. (NewsWire)

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