The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. I will first address Youth Affairs and Sports. During my tenure as Minister of Sports, we achieved much, with support from Hon. Ravi Karunanayake and the late Hon. Mangala Samaraweera. Each August we prepared programmes and secured funds to get work done. We built numerous provincial sports complexes, including Digana, the Northern Provincial complex, Sabaragamuwa/Ratnapura, and advanced work at Bingiriya. We also worked on Jaffna Doraiswamy Appa Ground, Matara Kotawila, Batticaloa Weber District Stadium, Polonnaruwa District Stadium, Kalutara, Kegalle, Puttalam, Ampara, Matale, Galle, and Gampaha complexes—over 10 major projects, many nearing completion; some work remains.

¶ 02 Regrettably, neither the Deputy Minister nor the Minister is in the Chamber to hear or respond. Someone must be present to note issues and respond.

¶ 03 Our main problem after building facilities is sustaining them. I proposed combining all these complexes under one management with the Sugathadasa complex, but it has not happened. Please bring a Cabinet paper to centralize governance under the Sugathadasa Stadium Board; otherwise these assets will decay.

¶ 04 I revived the Presidential Sports Awards and held them in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as a key platform to recognize athletes. We launched a Talent Identification programme jointly with the Education Ministry for children aged 7–13 across 316 zones, but it has since stopped.

¶ 05 On the National Sports Fund: it need not rely solely on new allocations; during my time we drew monthly funds from the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board. Sometimes it required persistent engagement. Today, Paralympic athletes have not been paid, causing distress. Please work with the Finance Ministry to release funds and settle dues for the athletes’ future.

¶ 06 We also launched the Sports Re-engineering Project—about Rs. 100 million annually—to train all coaches nationwide. I do not know if funds have been allocated this year. I initiated the High-Performance Laboratory, bringing sport science long lacking in Sri Lanka. After discussions in Australia and Canberra we set up the Human Performance Lab on the third floor of the building opposite Sri Lanka Cricket—fully equipped. Yet since 2024, despite repeated letters, they have failed to recruit a sports biomechanist and a sport and exercise physiologist. Without them the institute cannot function. The institute also needs four doctors and seven physiotherapists; currently there are only two physiotherapists trying to serve all athletes. Please engage the DG of the Management Services Department and fast-track these appointments.

¶ 07 Nutrition: in 2025, several major competitions are scheduled—Asian Youth Games, World Athletics Championships, Asian Youth and World Youth Netball Championships, Asian U20 Athletics, Asian Athletics, and South Asian Senior Athletics; in 2026, the South Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games. Normally, athlete pools are formed two years in advance with separate camps, nutrition and support. None of this is in place. For weightlifters, the hostel serves sambol, dried fish and a little rice for dinner—utterly inadequate. The hostels are infested with mosquitoes and bugs. A nutritionist must design diet plans tailored to each sport.

¶ 08 On staffing: under your DG, we need 103 Sports Officers; only about 86 are in post, short by 17; many have emigrated. We must fill 20 additional vacancies and 18 elsewhere. At Headquarters, only eight of twelve Sports Officer posts are filled. Four Assistant Directors (Sports) posts are also vacant. Please fill them.

¶ 09 Cricket: Ministers get trapped in cricket, overshadowing other sports. My achievements elsewhere were ignored because of cricket politics. The last Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, suffered the same and had to leave. Cricket is riddled with factions—Shammi Silva’s group and Upali Dharmadasa’s group (formerly Tilanga Sumathipala’s group and others). I have taken money from neither side, but warn: do not get entangled. We already lost hosting the Under-19 Asia Cup once. The Asia Cup is coming; political meddling will destroy cricket. Elections were not held for over eight years; I insisted on holding them despite pressure, including a personal call from then President Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting postponement. After that, neither the Sports Minister nor even the President can easily “touch” Sri Lanka Cricket due to ICC rules.

¶ 10 The same caution applies to the National Olympic Committee. There are allegations and counter-allegations, but if the IOC suspends Sri Lanka, our athletes will have to compete under a neutral flag. Therefore, do not destroy cricket again; engage properly with the ICC. Next year, over 30,000 foreign visitors are expected for cricket; hotel rooms are booking; 2026 could see a surge in tourists. Please allow that to proceed.

¶ 11 On the National Youth Services Council (NYSC): it is in crisis. For three years, the Sri Lanka Youth Societies’ Conference has not been held. Youth societies have not been formed at GN level; no divisional or district councils have been set up. Prepare a programme to rebuild them. The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Youth Services Director has been transferred amidst elections—avoid politicizing officials. I saw officials being berated at COPE; many issues arise from actions by appointees at the top rather than career officers. The former Chairman staged musical shows and then the Deputy Director, Mr. Jagath Liyanage, was removed for objecting.

¶ 12 NYSC built leaders—many of us benefited. Do not politicize it for one party’s youth. Work with its officers to rebuild the institution for all youth. Thank you for the time, Hon. Presiding Member.