1 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 Department of Sports Development Performance Report 2012 Department of Sports Development, No.33, Torrington Place , Colombo 07 2 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 Massage of the Sports Minister Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage I am extremely happy to take the field of sports to a new dimension during the last year based on short term, medium term and long term development plans to achieve the targets given to the Ministry of sports under Mahinda Chinthana Vision. It was a great achievement to provide the leadership to introduce sports culture, in the history of sports with the objective of encouraging of better physical fitness of all citizens, realizing the Mahinda Chinthana policy that Sports in the modern world is open not only for the youths but for children and adults as well. Hon. the president has allocated Rs.4500 million for construction of full pledged high standard sports complexes in divisional, district and provincial level for encouraging the extension of physical facilities required for sports development throughout the country with the objective of taking centralized sports to the village. Under the Provincial and District Sports Complex project inaugurated with the blessings of His Excellency the President, 9 schemes of integral sport complexes which can accommodate 25 sports events are being constructed. Under the first stage of this project constructions in Killinochchi, Anuradhapura, Badulla and Digana have been already commenced. Nawalapitiya Jayathilaka play ground under the District Sports Complex project has been declared open. The play grounds at Matara, Bandaragama, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Puttalam are being constructed. 95% of financial provision allocated to the Ministry of Sports has been utilized effectively, indicating a great achievement of our efficiency. I am happy that 11 International Sports festivals have been held in Sri Lanka last year making his Excellency President's Concept of creating a Sports Economy in the country a reality Winning the award for first runners up in World Cricket Cup, 20/20 Cup, Asian Netball Cup, and winning 6 medals at Asian Junior Athletic competition and a gold medal, 3 3 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 silver medals and 2 brownes medals at the World Tournament Carrom has been a fresh awakening in Sri Lankan sports field. I believe that holding such International Sports Competitions in Sri Lanka has special contributions to strengthening local economy. "Kreeda Shakthi" program launched to identify those who are really skillful genius in sports, classification of sports which have potential to win International Medals, obtaining official sponsors to National Sports Societies, classification of Sports trainers, starting training pools for 2013 SAARC Sports Competition, conducting awareness programs from School Level to National Sports Society Level on the prevention of illegal stimulants, establishing district sports medical units to facilitate rural sports personnel introducing new regulations for proper administration of sports societies, implementing National Sports Policy, implementation of North East Development projects, appointing Sports Officials for North East Provinces, refurbishment of the artificial track and swimming pool of Sugathadasa national Sports Complex Authority conducting Inter-Provincial coordinating programs taking correct decisions conducive to progress of Sports are the qualitative results of our commitments. I am grateful to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Director General of the Department of Sports Development, Heads of the Institutes and representatives of Sports Federations and all those who are helping to promote Sports for the co-operation extended to make successful, the programs carried out in a short period of two years to brightening future Sports, under the Leadership of his Excellency the President. Mahindananda Aluthgamage Minister of Sports. 4 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 Message of the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports 2012 can be identified as the turning point of the Ministry of Sports. In order to realize that there is something more significant in Sports than chasing after medals; sports has been popularized creating the necessary environment to promote physical and mental wellbeing of the people of our country. For the purpose of providing healthy public servants for an efficient public service “Fit for work” program commenced from the Ministry of Sports. This program has been successfully implemented in several ministries and provincial councils Action has been taken to implement the Sri Lanka National Policy of Sports published in Gazette No:1758/23 of 16th May 2012 with the approval of the Cabinet. This is a positive step in instilling new meaning for sports in the society and creating a better link between the community and the sports; as per the MahindaChinthana policy statement. The line agencies connected with the administration of the subject of sports are presently located at various places. In order to provide a better service to the sports men and women and different parties connected with sports it was felt necessary to bring all agencies connected with the Ministry of Sports under one roof. Accordingly 5 storied building planed in line with modern town planning is nearing completion. It is expected to establish the Ministry office in the new building in 2013. Basic steps have been taken to create a new sports culture, realizing the fact that winning medals is not the sole objective of sports. Foundation has been laid to build sports economy making Sri Lanka an ideal ground for sports. Accordingly necessary action has been taken to construct national sports complexes covering all 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. District sports complexes will be constructed in the districts not covered by provincial sports complexes. The construction in four National Sports Complexes and five District Sports Complexes has 5 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 commenced in 2012. Thereby direct and indirect benefits accrued to Sri Lankan by conducting International Sports competitions in Sri Lanka. Sports education programs have been conducted by the National Institute of Sports Science to give higher education and knowledge to sports men and women. Negotiations are being conducted with the University Grant Commission to link National Institute of sports science with a NationalUniversity. Services of foreign trainers have been obtained to elevate the technical knowledge of sports men, women, trainers and managers. It is expected to enhance the infrastructure facilities further in 2013 and make sports an important part of the lives of all Sri Lankan from small child to senior citizens. I extend my sincere thanks to Hon. Minister for advising us to travel the journey correctly. I thank the staff of the Sports Ministry, staff of the Department of Sports Development, staff of the National Institute of Sports Medicine, staff of the Sugathadasa National Sports Authority and the National Institute of Sports Science for helping to march forward overcoming obstacles. The commitment of the Sports Societies to take the name of the Sri Lanka to International arena is greatly appreciated. I also thank them for the co-operation extended. AnuraJayawickrama Secretary Ministry of Sports. 6 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 Message of the Director General, Department of Sports Development Department of Sports Development coming under Ministry of Sports being the forerunner in sports development in Sri Lanka is performing a unique service to the nation. I’ m proud to state that the progress in physical as well as human resource development in the recent past is unparallel to any other period. I should appreciate the valuable instructions and encouragement of the Hon. Minister of Sports in the process of constructing fully-fledged sports complexes, indoor stadiums at provincial level and district sports complexes as well. We have also contributed in the process of upliftment of inborn talents of war-stricken children in northern and eastern parts of the country. These children were supplied with many facilities like playgrounds, training programmes and other items to do sports also providing psychological support to them. The complete renovation of the athletic track and the swimming pool of the Sugathadasa Stadium to the international standards has immensely contributed to the sports development in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan athletes have bagged gold, silver and bronze medals in the Asian Junior Athletic Tournament held at the Sugathadasa Stadium marking a turning point creating hopes in our future sports. Eventhough, some of our athletes could not win medals in international sports competitions, they could maintain their personal best in relevant events. This is also a good sign for future of our sports. Our effort to classify sports personnel registered under fifty two sports associations in our department based on their talents in order to improve their capabilities has also flourished with success. Our sports personnel in karate-do, handball, beach volleyball, carom, horse racing, billiards & snooker, judo, tae- kwon- do, boxing, shooting and many other sports have marked the Sri Lankan name in international sports arena. 7 Department of Sports Development Performance Reports 2012 Sri Lankan netball team became the runners up in the recently concluded Asian