The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, in today’s debate on the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill, the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, and regulations under the Sports Act, I wish to speak particularly about sports.

¶ 02 Sports strengthens individuals physically and mentally, cultivates character, produces capable leaders, and builds teamwork. Based on these goals, our National People’s Power Government seeks to select youth from all regions through youth clubs, identify their talents, train them, and provide facilities and programs.

¶ 03 In the Hill Country I represent, many talented youth lack proper platforms. Even prominent schools lack grounds, sports equipment, and coaches. Despite such constraints, many students and athletes have achieved victories at zonal, divisional, and national school levels. Past governments and parties neglected building a talented youth cohort.

¶ 04 Hill Country youth are often misled during elections with token donations—equipment, cleaning grounds, or funding a tournament—rather than long-term development. In my Nuwara Eliya (Ambutale) electorate, there is no fully equipped ground. The Diathalawa Polo Ground, once a model facility with a children’s park under army control, has been closed since the Rajapaksa era, though people used it even during the war. Places used in wartime are now closed.

¶ 05 In Uva schools, facilities—grounds, equipment, coaching—are scarce. As a result, youth are drifting into drugs and harmful habits. We, as the National People’s Power Government, are working through the National Youth Council to unify Muslim, Tamil, and Hill Country youth, identify talent, and elevate them.

¶ 06 In our areas, we have many volleyball players, some with national potential. The Government should train and take them to national and international levels. Thank you.