Students with sporting talent will be looked after in varsities - Sports Minister Aluthgamage

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN – Kandy Sports Cor.

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS IN EDUCATION: The Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Higher Education together have drawn up plans to benefit students who had devoted their time on sports and could not gain admission to the Universities due to lack of marks.

It has been decided to allocate five admissions to each Faculty of the University to admit such students to the Universities who had excelled in studies and also represented the country in sports. It is unfair to keep out such students after they had sacrificed their time for the country, said the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

He made these observations when he addressed the 10th Colours Eve of Kandy Girls High School held at the College Hall last week.

Minister Aluthgamage said that however talented one may be, but, without the necessary facilities and infrastructure you cannot go far. Central Province is only second to the Western Province in sports and this is clearly shown at the National Sports Festival, but where the Western Province is ahead is where they have all the necessary facilities which the other provinces do not have.

In order to balance this situation and to provide on level with the others, the present government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to construct playgrounds in all parts of the country. It will be at Provincial District and Pradeshiya Sabha levels where over 360 playgrounds and other facilities will be provided.

He said that in the past Kandy has produced great sportsmen and sportswomen and fed the national team. Cricketer Kumar Sangakkara is from Kandy and he is at present the best cricketer in the world, having won three ICC awards recently.

There may be hidden talent in the rural areas and we have to look for them. We can do this only by providing the facilities.

It may be similar to a rough uncut gem found in the muddy fields in Ratnapura and we have to look for it and provide the necessary finish.

Minister Aluthgamage regretted that only a small percentage of the school children indulge in sports.

The present practice is that the school children get up early and come in school vans to school.

Next it is the tuition class and when this is over, they go home tired and study a little or sit behind the computer and later keep themselves occupied with their mobile phones and send SMS’s. This procedure should be changed.

He said from next year onwards when the children pass the Year Five Scholarship Examination, they will have to undergo a medical test and the doctors will decide to which sports a particular child is suitable and he has to participate at least in one sport at the school.

The sports teachers should remain in school till 6 p.m. to train the children. If a step like this is not taken, a lot of talent will go waste and it will be a big loss to sports as schools are the nurseries to the national team.

Minister Aluthgamage also presented a cheque for Rs. 12 million to the Principal of the school Mrs. Malkanthi Abeygunasekara for the construction of a indoor gymnasium and said this must be completed within three months and in the future a swimming pool will be added to this complex.

He said that the grounds at Mahamaya Girls College will be developed along with grounds at Kingswood College. Our target is to become the top province in sports in the country.

He said that a number of mercantile firms and banks have come forward to sponsor sports in the country and they will also provide employment to sportsmen and sportswomen.

In conclusion, the minister said that the country had benefited immensely by the T20 World Cup matches. Almost all the hotels had been fully occupied and there had been both direct and indirect employment.

The country’s economy had benefited by this large influx of cricket fans and their families which in turn will boost the local tourist industry.

In conclusion he said that he had constructed a modern stadium for Nawalapitiya with all facilities.

If one goes in the evenings a person can see Rambanda’s and Gunapala’s walking around the grounds, performing their constitutional walks.

Now everyone has realised the importance of keeping fit and leading a sickness free life.

This is our motto and you will have to keep yourself fit to lead healthy lives.