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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

14th July 2021 19:26:59 Hours

9th ‘High Performance’ Project to Revive Para Sportsmanship in Future

Intending to revive the field of Para Games and develop sports skills among Para Sportsmen, both in the civil sector and tri-services, the Ministry of Sports has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Sports Development and the National Paralympic Committee of the National Sports Council under the ‘High Performance’ programme of the Department.

Hon Minister of Youth and Sports, Namal Rajapaksa through his Ministry has allocated a sum of Rs 47 m for this exclusive purpose with the objective of raising the sports standards of Para sportsmen in future within a short spell, targeting forthcoming Para Games, Paralympics and other international and local tournaments.

In the presence of Hon Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa and General Shavendra Silva, Chairman of National Sports Selection Committee, Member of National Sports Council, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, both Mr Amal Edirisuriya, Director General Sports in the Department of Sports Development and Lieutenant Colonel L.R.T.D Herath (Retd), President of National Paralympic Committee this morning (14) inked the MoU at the office of the National Sport Council, Colombo 7.

This 9th ‘High Performance’ Sports Development Programme, introduced by the National Sports Council is meant to elevate and stimulate professional standards in Para sports and groom sportsmen based on priority method for better achievements in future. It also aims at producing the best assortment to the forthcoming Asian Para Games 2022 and also for future international tournaments.

This year 9 sportsmen are scheduled to participate in Para Games - 2021 in Japan. The team includes seven from the Army (both serving and retired), one from Navy and one from the civil sector.

The occasion was witnessed by officials of the Ministry, Department of Sports Development, National Sports Selection Committee and National Sports Council, coaches and a few athletes.