Work on a sports biomechanics laboratory, high altitude training center, anti-doping testing laboratory and three brand new synthetic tracks, are set to commence in 2018, in a move to facilitate the sportsmen and women of the country.
Minister of Sports, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, addressing a media briefing at the Government News Department auditorium today (January 4th), about the work that has been carried out by the Ministry, during the last year and the plans for year 2018, revealed the vast improvements that are set to be completed within the year.
Sri Lanka currently trail the rest of the world by years, if not decades, when it comes to the use of biomechanics and analyzing human movement to optimize capabilities of sportsmen and the proposed sports biomechanics laboratory, which is set to be placed under the patronage of the Institute of Sports Medicine, Sri Lanka, will no doubt uplift the standards of sports in the country. Addressing the media, the Director General of the Institute of Sports Medicine, Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe added that “We still do not have the facilities to analyze and observe the biomechanics of the sportsmen and women, due to this we as a country still rely on the traditional methods of training which sometimes over stresses the individual athletes. This is the root cause of so many injuries, are being observed throughout all levels across all sports.”
Dr. Edirisinghe also revealed plans of holding a 3day conference in the Island scheduled from 6th to 9th September this year, where leading professionals in the field of biomechanics from around the world will attend. “We are hoping to get down ten of the best resource personnel in the field of sports medicine for the conference in September. So far close to eight have already confirmed and we are certain that this will attract over 400 professionals from the region who work in sports medicine. This will be a huge boost to the sports medicine sector of the country and we plan on continuing this bi-annually in order to be up to date with the latest practices and technology in the field”
In line with the goal of keeping sport clean in the country, the Island is set to receive its very own testing laboratory. Speaking to the media, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, Prof Arjuna de Silva added that “Thanks to the Hon. Minister, we have finally received a building of our own and we will be getting a testing laboratory as well. There are only two labs in the region currently, with one being situated in Qatar and the other in India. Currently we spend close to USD 250 per sample that we send for testing and with our own lab, we will be able to expand our testing capabilities, since we will save a lot of money. Also we hope to lure the other countries to send their testing samples to us so we may earn through supplying the service”
Work will also commence on the world’s 4th high altitude training center this year, which is set to be built in Nuwara Eliya. A commercial agreement for a sum of 75.63 million Euro was signed between the French company ‘Ellipse Project SAS’ and the government of Sri Lanka in February 2017 and currently all the blueprints of the projects have been laid, while 55 families who are illegally occupying the crown land earmarked for the construction, will be relocated to houses which are being built with all basic amenities in the Hawaeliya area. The loan agreement between the French government and the government of Sri Lanka, is currently with the Attorney General’s Department pending approval.
