Sports Ministry handed LKR 4.2b from 2023 Budget

By Susil Premalal

The Government has allocated a sum of LKR 4.2 billion from the 2023 Budget for the development of sports in the country.

This is a tremendous boost for the upliftment of sports in Sri Lanka despite the current financial crisis in the country, Sports Ministry Secretary Dr. Amal de Silva revealed.

The next two years will be a challenging period for Sri Lankan athletes as they are set to participate in several international events, including the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago from August 4 to 11, the World Athletic Championships in Budapest from August 19 to 27, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8, and the Olympic Games in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Four National Pools, including the High-Performance Pool comprising 178 athletes, are currently training in preparation for these events, with a few foreign coaches also set to arrive in the country in the coming months, National Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga stressed.

Sri Lankan authorities are currently in ambassadorial consultations with New Zealand and England, and discussions will continue with more friendly nations to obtain the services of foreign coaches, Ranatunga added.

Ranatunga also stressed that Sri Lankan athletes have previously won medals mainly due to the efforts of foreign coaches.