Mr. Lalith U. Gamage, the Governor of the Central Province, has unveiled plans for a new program aimed at enhancing the nutritional levels of school athletes. The initiative, set to commence next month, involves the Central Provincial Council providing financial assistance of 10,500 rupees to every sports student in the Central Province.
Governor Gamage shared this information while serving as the chief guest at an event in Kandy, held to welcome the gold medal-winning athlete Tarushi Karunaratne. The athlete received a warm welcome from the students of her school, A. Ratnayaka Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Kandy. The celebration included a parade led by the school’s band that escorted her to the Kandy City Center.
During the event, Governor Gamage praised the Central Provincial Council’s commitment to advancing female athletes in the region. He mentioned that the Chief Minister’s Fund of the Central Province had supported Tarushi’s international trip. He also noted that he had personally intervened with the Sports Minister on behalf of athletes when they faced difficulties due to bureaucratic delays during a previous international visit, ensuring they were able to compete abroad.
Moreover, Governor Gamage announced that the construction of a stadium at Ratnayake Central College, where athlete Tharushi Karunaratne studies, will begin in January of next year. He stated that this facility’s construction would be completed as a tribute to Tharushi and the sports community.
Governor Gamage emphasized the importance of combining education with sports and the need to support athletes to ensure they don’t face challenges like working as domestic workers abroad, despite their athletic achievements.