President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed that changing public attitudes is essential to making sport an integral part of everyday life, stating that a stronger sporting culture could help address social issues such as road accidents and youth drug abuse while fostering a healthier and more disciplined generation.
The President made these remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (23) to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and to consider proposals for the 2027 Budget.
During the meeting, President Dissanayake said sport should not be viewed solely as a competitive activity but as a way of life embedded within society. He noted that sporting events should not only help athletes achieve competitive success but also encourage greater public participation and promote a nationwide sporting culture.
The President also highlighted the need to identify talented athletes, provide them with systematic training and world-class facilities, and prepare them to compete successfully at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Emphasising the importance of developing athletes capable of excelling internationally, President Dissanayake said Sri Lanka requires a highly skilled pool of coaches with the expertise needed to nurture elite sporting talent. He instructed officials to formulate a comprehensive plan to strengthen the country’s coaching capacity, describing it as a key step towards raising Sri Lankan sport to international standards.
The discussion included a review of projects implemented during 2026 and focused on the plans, priorities and funding requirements of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and its affiliated institutions for 2027. These included the Department of Sports Development, Sports Medicine Institute, National Institute of Sports Science, Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority, Anti-Doping Agency, National Youth Corps, National Youth Services Council and the National Centre for Leadership Development.
Officials also reviewed progress on major sports infrastructure projects, including the Mannar District Sports Complex, Kilinochchi District Sports Complex, Kalmunai Sandangani Stadium, and the refurbishment of the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and the Diyagama International Sports Complex.
The President further assessed progress on the proposed High Performance Centre, a modern facility equipped with advanced technology and training infrastructure aimed at improving the performance of Sri Lankan athletes and strengthening the country’s competitiveness on the international stage.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Dinidu Saman Hennayake, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and other senior government officials.
The post President Calls for Stronger Sporting Culture to Build Healthier Society appeared first on LNW Lanka News Web.
