President launches redeveloped Jayathilake Sports Complex

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The refurbished Jayathilake Sports Complex in Nawalapitiya was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the invitation of Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage amid a massive crowd in Nawalapitiya yesterday. The Nawalapitiya Jayathilake Sports Complex, which was redeveloped at a cost of Rs 250 million, is the first of the nine well equipped and perfect provincial level sports complexes under the ‘Regional Sports Facilities and Complexes Development Program’ launched by the Sports Ministry.

It includes a main sporting stadium with 400 m track consisting of 8 lanes, with an additional 200 m warm-up track, a well equipped gymnasium and a football/rugby ground. There is also a swimming pool with 8 lanes and an indoor stadium which will facilitate 25 sporting events. A hostel, restaurant, medical centre, VVIP pavilion with 300 seats, VIP pavilion with 500 seats and a pavilion which consists around 20,000 seats are among the other facilities available in this complex.

“Nawalapitiya has become a beautiful and active city and the quality is further enhanced by the beautiful and scenic Jayathilake Sports Complex, and the challenge is to make maximum use and to preserve this property well and it is the responsibility of sports personnel and relevant administrators”, said President Mahinda Rajapakse after ceremonially opening the ground, indoor stadium and the swimming pool by unveiling the plaques.

“The government’s aim is to help and uplift standards of the the rural talented youth to reach national and international arenas, and facilities like these will provide the perfect back up to the rural youth”, he further said.

“It is our duty to help the young and talented sportsmen and women and their future is assured as promised in the Mahinda Chinthana Future Vision. Development is continuing and it is further underlined by mega facilities like these”, President Rajapaksa added.

The president also commended Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage for his efforts to give the rural sports personnel the facilities they need.

He also assured the government’s support in the future endeavourers of the sports ministry.

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage in his welcome speech explained that the Ministry of Sports’ expectation is to lift sports in Sri Lanka to international standards through the seven year National Sports Policy. “The National Sports Policy will help to overcome the setback that Sri Lanka faced during the last few years. Through this, it is expected to produce a national sports culture and to assist in the development of the national economy”, he stressed.