The first ever National High-Performance Strategy and Sports Tier System was inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Duncan White Auditorium chaired by Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa last week.
Minister Rajapaksa addressing the heads of sports associations and officials of the Ministry said that this is one of the most needed spheres to uplift the standard of sports in the country.
The Sports Council members studying the present situation of sports in the country had decided to present the new system to identify the best sports persons from all parts of the country.
The Minister said that the Sports Council was established in 1979 but the councils have failed to do their best for sports.
“It is true that Sri Lanka won many medals at international level, but we have not reached the level to be among the top countries when competing at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics. The time has come for us to see how we can reach this level and plan well to expect good results,” the Minister said.
The Minister said that only six percent of the Budget allocation for sports was released for its development.
He said a bigger allocation was spent for building purposes and part of it was utilized for matters of the associations and the shortage of funds also brought a downfall for the development of sports in the country.
“With this proposed National High-Performance Strategy and Sports Tier System the Ministry is set to take the responsibility and make the right turn to serve sports at large,” the Minister said.
He also said that the present Sports Law contains many loop holes that prevents the Ministry and other parties from taking firm decisions for the benefit of sportsmen and women and as such the Ministry has already consulted legal experts to bring in new laws to the existing Sports Law.
Speaking further Minister Rajapaksa said that he will increase to 20 percent the budget allocation for sports funding while noting that countries like India and Australia set aside 40 to 50 percent of their budgets for the same purpose.
He said a data base will also be implemented to monitor the new developments.