New technology needed to reach higher levels - Sports Minister

Bernard PERERA

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage assumed duties at the Sports Ministry yesterday and met the staff of the Ministry. He was given a grand welcome by the ministry staff on his arrival.

Minister Aluthgamage later addressed the media men at the ministry auditorium. The Minster said that he was given a challenging task, and is prepared to take the challenge to promote sports in the country. The President who is a keen follower of sports want the country to produce international level sportsmen and women to bring glory to the country.

In the Sri Lanka achieved success at international level and our sporting stars put Sri Lanka on the world map. "This they achieved through their talent. But today it is not possible to achieve the same success. It is because other countries add modern technology to talented sportsmen and women and with it they have reached higher levels in their respective disciplines.

We in Sri Lanka now have to add new this technology to our talent if we are to compete alongside these superior competitors from other countries.

We have to lay the foundation for that as we are gearing up to hold the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Sri Lanka. I have to put things in the right direction.

The Sports Ministry alone can not do this and it is the duty of everyone to get together to help achieve good results in the future. The media too should come in a big way to help develop sports in the country.

I am always prepared to listen to the media and will not try to shut them out at any stage because they have the right to high light rights and wrongs.

Since the introduction of the Sports Ministry many ministers have come and gone. These ministers tried every thing they could do to develop sports in Sri Lanka. Their efforts at times have produced good results in the same way there were down falls too. Now the time has come for us to find out the reasons for the downfalls and rectify them if we are to face the new era" said the Minister.