Sports activities to resume under health guidelines | Daily News

Sports activities to resume under health guidelines

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa briefs the gathering. Others in the picture from left- Thenuka Vidanagamage, State Minister of Rural and School Sports Infrastructure Promotion, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health, Anuradha Wijekoon, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and members of the respective ministries along with the Sports Council members.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa briefs the gathering. Others in the picture from left- Thenuka Vidanagamage, State Minister of Rural and School Sports Infrastructure Promotion, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Health, Anuradha Wijekoon, Secretary to th

A special discussion was held yesterday (06) with the participation of the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa and the officials of both ministries at the Ministry of Sports to find out the possibility of resuming school sport activities.

During the discussion, the Health Minister and the officials from the Ministry of Health pointed out that there is a possibility of starting school sports in provinces other than the Western Province where the risk of the virus is high, and that children in isolated areas, including the Western Province, should not be involved in sports in any way.

Discussions also focused on the possibility of holding athletics in line with the current health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, as well as team sports and school Big Match competitions. Health authorities stressed the importance of holding sports competitions without the participation of a large number of people. The officials of the Ministry of Health pointed out that children with symptoms as well as ailments should never be subjected to sports competitions and that the guidelines currently issued by the Ministry of Health should be updated as required to focus on the systematic commencement of school sports.

Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports and other officials of the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education stated that the purpose of this discussion was to gain an understanding with the Ministry of Health on the possibility of starting school sports in accordance with the health guidelines.

The Health Ministry, Sports Ministry and Education Ministry will collectively introduce a National health guide on how to continue sports activities under strict health concerns. The discussion also emphasized the role and responsibility of parents, teachers and athletes to continue sports activities in safe environment.

State Minister of Rural and School Sports Infrastructure Thenuka Vidanagamage, former Member of the National Sports Council Kumar Sangakkara, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Maj. Gen. Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Anuradha Wijekoon, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Lakshmi Somatunga and other officials of the Ministry of Education participated.