Dollar crisis affects Sri Lanka’s participation in international sports events

By Susil Premalal
Many national sports associations are finding it difficult to send teams for international competitions because of the dollar crisis.

Entry fees and related expenditure for hotel accommodation have to be paid in dollars but with local bank not offering credit facilities, Sri Lanka is unable to participate in international competitions.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to participate in many international tournaments at Asian and World level but many sports bodies are unable to submit their entries because of the dollar crisis.

Meanwhile, 30 national sports associations which had depended on funds approved by the National Sports Council (NSC) and High Performance Sports Programme to participate in international competitions, foreign training and allowances for foreign coaches but with the NSC not functioning they are in a quandary.

In addition, there is a danger of Sri Lanka missing several international tournaments this year such volleyball (five), athletics (four), football (two), badminton (three), weightlifting, netball, table tennis, judo and wrestling because of the dollar crisis.