National Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga (second from left) explaining a point to athletes at the discussion held yesterday at the National Sports Council Auditorium at Torrington grounds. Also in the picture from left Amal Edirisooriya the Sports Director General, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and Secretary to the Sports Minister Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva (Pix by Dhammika Ratnaweera)
Dedication and Displinee is vital for athletes to go forward while as a team we are (National Sports Council) always committed to give support to the athletes, said National Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga at the discussion with the High performance Unit athletes yesterday at the NSC Auditorium at Torrington grounds.
Actually we are very happy four athletes won medals at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. We are keen to support the athletes who are preforming well to bring honour to the country and High performance athletes have to work with dedication to get success.
Actually the dedication of our coaches paved the way to get success those days. As a former Cricket captain I had to do lot of hard work to get success. Today Sports Ministry, Schools, Education Ministry, Provincial Council, National Youth Services Centre, National Sports Council, National Olympic Committee all have to work together for the players success.
National Sports Council is the place where athletes are welcome to meet us especially on Wednesdays from 9 am to 1pm at the Torrington office and you all can talk to us and explain your problems and this is a place for athletes not for the officials, said Arjuna Ranatunga.
Meanwhile Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said Arjuna Ranatunga is the best person to handle the NSC as he knows the requirements of the athletes and as a team they can work hard for the players benefit.
The doctors are very keen to work for the players nutrition and I personally had a chat with doctors regarding players requirements, he said.
Meanwhile Arjuna Ranatunga pointed out a section of the officials are trying to obstruct his duties but he is always ready to work for the progress of athletes and Sports. Most of the lawyers had a chat with me yesterday and I am very keen to change the system to uplift sports, said the former World Cup winning captain.
The sports Minister also pointed out 'Gramasewa Meets' and' Divisional sports squads are today neglected and wanted to recommence that very soon. Especially National Sports Council members with Sports Director General Amal Edirisooriya, Sports Secretary Dr Amal Harsha de Silva are working together and we have a plan to add Sports as a subject for the G.C E A/L in future. we have to bring about players discipline, commitment, and teach them how to take up victory and defeat in the same spirit, added Arjuna.
The National Sports Council members Sriyani Kulawansa, Lasitha Gunaratne, Sudath Chandrasekhara Secretary of the NSC Sujani Bogollagama, Secretary to the Sports Ministry Dr Amal Harsha de Silva were present at this discussion while the High performance athletes were present and few of them pointed out their requirements to the NSC Chairman.
Meanwhile Sports Minister also had a discussion with the Sports Ministry officials on how to organise National sport Festival. The sports Minister has an idea to conduct National sports Festival with Rs. 20 million rupees.
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