Sports

PM chairs discussion to promote school sports

Officials of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs yesterday held a discussion with Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Minister and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliamentary Complex regarding the ways to promote school sports and resolving existing issues in the respective sector.

During the discussion, attention was drawn to the need for building a stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sports in order to address prevailing issues related to school sports as well as licensing issues faced by sports associations, challenges faced by sports coaches, and the development of sports schools. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for every student to participate in sports.

Highlighting the need for fostering a sports culture in schools that prioritises the physical and mental well-being of students over competitiveness, the Prime Minister also stressed the importance of regular meetings between the two ministries to continue discussions on resolving existing problems. Moreover, attention was paid to establishing a computer-based application system for applying to sports competitions.

The discussion was attended by the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sugath Thilakaratne, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Additional Secretary (Subject Coordination) of the Ministry of Education Udara Dikkumbura, and National Sports Council Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake, along with other officials.