Hon. Sugath Thilakaratne - Deputy Minister of Sports

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Regulations brought under the Convention Against Doping in Sports Act, No. 33 of 2013. This Act functions under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework and the global convention adopted among sporting nations. Each year, newly prohibited substances are listed to ensure clean sport. Today’s debate centers on updating that list.

¶ 02 Providing prohibited stimulants and substances occurs not only to athletes but also to animals used in sport. To counter this, the prohibited list is regularly updated worldwide, and Sri Lanka has established the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA). Previously, since around 2000, this functioned under the Sports Medicine Unit; in 2013, SLADA was established as a standalone agency by Act No. 33 of 2013.

¶ 03 External persons—coaches, professionals, doctors, nutritionists, supplement providers—often facilitate access to such substances; athletes typically do not obtain them alone. Therefore, these regulations and updates are especially important for sports federations—there are 74 registered under the Ministry—and for all those engaged around athletes.

¶ 04 [Mr. Speaker left the Chair. The Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih, Deputy Speaker, took the Chair.]