Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe gave instructions to add two athletic coaches Susantha Fernando and W.G.M Thushara for the Asian Games which will be held from next October in China .
According to the Secretary of the Sports Ministry K.Maheshan this time 62 mens athletes and 34 womens athletes from 20 sports will will go on the tour while 20 managers, 24 coaches, six member medical team and 7 officials of National Olympic Committee got approval from the Sports Minister last Monday and altogether 153 member Sri Lanka contingent will go on this China tour.
Sports Minister wanted to give first priority for athletes and less officials for the Asian Games and I have to consider this system to get Sports Minister approval said Sports Ministry Secretary K.Maheshan.
Two gold medalists Tharushi Karunaratne ( 800m) and Nadeesha Ramanayaka (400m) at the recently concluded Asian Athletic championship in Bangkok are in the contingent but their coaches Susantha Fernando the coach of Tharushi and W.G.M Thushara the coach of Nadeesha Ramanayaka were not included for the Asian Games team but Sports Minister finally decided to include these two names as the two athletes are line in for medals at the Asian Games. Tharushi and Nadeesha Ramanayaka were members of the silver medal winning girls 4x400m and 400m mixed relay team.
Dhammika Ratnaweera