Sri Lanka is on track to create a billion-dollar sports economy with adventure sports coming into play at the Colombo Port City as the country gears up to woo investors in a post-covid scenario.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa underscored this after Sri Lanka’s first sand dunes ATV (all-terrain vehicle) adventure centre was declared open on Thursday.
Lauding Crate Adventure for their initiative in creating an adventure track at Colombo Port City, the youthful Minister inaugurated the Colombo Dunes by going on the first ride. “It was a good experience,” he said. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi were also present on the occasion.
“Port City is an iconic investment. We want to create more opportunities for young entrepreneurs to come and be part of this initiative, especially in the sports sector. We are now manufacturing sports equipment in Mahiyangana. Even ATVs could be produced there,” said Rajapaksa who is also Minister of Youth Affairs, Development Coordination and Monitoring as well as State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development.
Whereas Colombo Dunes will serve as a recreation centre for daily physical activities for both locals and foreigners, Minister Rajapaksa pointed out that opportunities are as vast as the Colombo skyline in the Port City which is taking shape as a trans-shipment hub and financial city as envisioned by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“Golf started a year ago. Crate Adventure has an ATV track. Our aim is to create a billion-dollar sports economy within the next five years,” said Rajapaksa.
He said the pathway has been created for this with the conduct of major tournaments like the LPL (Lanka Premier League).
“We were the first to play cricket in Asia within a bubble when other countries played in the Middle East and Europe. Cricket, football and athletics are contributing $100 million to the economy,” he said urging national sports bodies to be self reliant.
“In our history, we have always been dependent on the government and we are not concentrated on the sporting economy. It has always been supported or sponsored by the private sector and the government,” he said
“Now what we are looking at is to create a billion-dollar (sports) industry. We initiated the LPL one year ago. The second edition will happen in December right after the T20) World Cup. We will also play a four-nation world ranking football tournament with Seychelles, Bangladesh and Maldives in November.”
Sri Lanka Cricket is also scheduled to host the Asia Cup next year.
“At the same time we are looking for more sporting activities to take place in our country specially related to water sports, hiking, trekking and now adventure sport. This we believe is a great investment for us as a ministry to promote more adventure sports and people who are related to adventure sports to come to Sri Lanka for holidays,” said minister Rajapaksa.
“It (Colombo Dunes) looks very interesting and professional the way it is built. We need activities like this. Adventure is to experience a lot of different activities. Some are motorised and others unmotorised. The Port City I am sure will cater into 4x4 enthusiasts. It is an ideal location for water sports and also golf and running ,” said Lanka Sportreizen Founder and Chairman Thilak Weerasinghe who is also the president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators.
“We have three adventure tracks. We look forward to bring in from a beginner to an expert on ATV riding plus we have Sri Lanka’s first artificial beach here at the Port City where we can do rides on the purpose built trailer for senior citizens and families like an evening kind of tour. What we are looking at here is promoting mental relaxation, physical exercise mixed with adventure,” said Ranul Thantilage, Director of Colombo Dunes by Crate Adventure.
The company already operates a centre in Gampaha known as ‘Colombo Mountain’ which is nestled in a rocky mountain terrain since 2018 having identified the gap in Sri Lanka between general tourism and adventure tourism.
Joining hands with the World’s Leading ATV manufacturer, a North American Company, Can-Am by BRP; Crate Adventure featured top-in-the-class, high-end ATVs that exceed client expectations.
At the time of the launch, this was South Asia’s first ATV Adventure Park.