“Schools should not produce bookworms. Extracurricular activities should be encouraged to produce a very healthy nation, “sports should be improved to international standards in the schools”. This was President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision in improve sports to ensure the physical wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s future generations.

The President’s election manifesto, Mahinda Chintana places much importance to the development of sports supporting sportsmen/women to achieve excellence in the national and international spheres. It promises sports facilities to the rural areas so that the rural sector could also benefit from sports and recreation, without it being limited to the Colombo and urban centres.

The government has, therefore, successfully completed many projects related to sports around the country since President Rajapaksa took office while several more projects have already commenced.

International Sports Stadiums

The construction work of a Sports Training Complex to facilitate national and international sportsmen/women has commenced in Nuwara Eliya. The construction of the 400 metres long running track is nearing completion.

Sri Lanka Cricket opened a new World Cup venue in Pallekele which is intended for the 2011 World Cup. This International Cricket Stadium which can accommodate 30,000 spectators was opened in November this year.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama is now under construction. The foundation stone for the complex was laid in June 2006. Spread over 156 acres, the complex will facilitate rugby, soccer, as well as athletics including track and field. The ground will comprise a swimming pool, a rifle shooting range and a gymnasium. Two pavilions for track and field events and other games which can accommodate more than 3000 spectators each are also being constructed. President Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to construct the stadium as an environmental friendly sports complex.

Completed projects

The government has also taken steps to promote sports in the rural sector ensuring that adequate facilities are established.

According to the Sports Development Authority, eight projects to construct playgrounds have already been completed. The biggest project costing Rs.64.2 million was the Avissawella Philip Gunewardena playground. The Nawalapitiya Jayathilaka playground was built at a cost of Rs.60.9 million, while the Beliatta D. A. Rajapaksa playground cost Rs.53.58 million. The Polonnaruwa National playground built costing Rs.40.28 million is already in use by the public.

Playgrounds were built within schools as well so that children have adequate facilities to engage in sports. Dikwella Vijitha MV playground (Rs.18.22 million), Piliyandala MMV playground (Rs.34.33 million) and Madampe Senanayake MV playground (Rs.13.71 million) are some of such facilities. Ruvanwella Peoples’ playground is complete construction and open to the public. This was built at a cost of Rs.28.46 million.

Projects in progress

The construction of hostels for the hockey playground at Reid Avenue is being completed. This will facilitate hockey players from many parts of the country to be accommodated in Colombo to participate in training and tournaments while also allowing them easy travel to sports clubs in Colombo.

The Torrington Playground in Colombo will be modernized soon with an artificial running track.

Action has been taken to build an indoor tennis court at St. Michael’s Vidyalaya, Colombo West and a playground with 400 metres running track at Bandaramulla Vidyalaya.

Tennis courts at Kiran Vidyalaya and St. Cecilia’s Vidyalaya in Batticaloa District have been handed over to the sportsmen/women, under the ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ Programme.

In addition to the above initiatives, the Government has commenced projects to upgrade many playgrounds in the rural areas of the country, at a cost of Rs.315 million.

Sports Schools

The Government plans to create a system where students with skills in sports have access to sports facilities and training, parallel to their education.

As it is not practical for this system to function in every school, the Government has taken action to identify schools and transform them into ‘sports schools’ where children have the ability to engage in sports together with education.


Steps are also being taken to develop playgrounds, swimming pools, gyms and hostels in schools around the country while evaluating the available resources to uplift the existing facilities for sports in schools.

Sports for peace and reconciliation

The Government began a programme for IDP sports men/women to engage in sports once again. This programme was aimed at addressing the mental trauma they went through due to terrorism prevalent in the North for nearly three decades.

In the first phase of the programme, the people were given sports equipment to engage in sports activities. IDPs in Kalmudai and Sirukkandal relief villages in Mannar District and, Kadiragamar, Arunachalam and Ramanadan relief villages in Menik Farm were provided equipment in February this year.

In the second phase of the programme, playgrounds were constructed in the relief villages and sports equipments were supplied. Playgrounds and equipments were provided to five relief villages in August this year.

In the third phase, entertainment and group games were introduced to children in relief villages. Training was given to them with the assistance of the National Olympic Committee.

The Government Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process organized a Sports and Cultural Festival in Batticaloa where teams from all provinces visited the Eastern Province for friendly tournaments in Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer. The Eastern sports men/women as well as youth from other parts of the country had a chance of interacting with each other and building friendship.

The aim of Mahinda Chintana to upgrade sports in Sri Lanka is now becoming a reality. Children are using the newly constructed sports facilities to improve their sports skills. More and more sports men/women are excelling internationally due to improved national standards.