The Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs, Northern Province informed the Hon. Governor that steps will be taken to implement the request made by the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, to provide cash prizes to athletes who have represented the Province and achieved success at the national level, as well as to resume the Colours Night awards previously held.
A discussion with District and Divisional Sports Officers, Sports Instructors, and representatives of the Northern Provincial Physical Education Diploma Teachers’ Association, attached to the Northern Provincial Department of Sports, was held at the Governor’s Secretariat on Tuesday – 28 October 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Hon. Governor stated that by encouraging athletes who have achieved success at the national level, others can be inspired to strive for similar accomplishments in the future. He also emphasized that schools attended by students who achieve at the national level should be provided with the necessary sports equipment to further promote sporting excellence.
The provision of sports equipment to clubs through diversified funding allocations has been limited in recent years. The Provincial Department of Sports should give greater attention to this matter and collaborate with the respective District Secretariats to ensure that regional-level clubs receive the necessary sports equipment.
The Hon. Governor stated that some sports officials tend to consider their duties complete after organizing regional, district, and national level competitions. He pointed out that although regional sports clubs are invited to participate and discussions are held during these events, there is often insufficient follow-up to sustain the continued functioning of these clubs. The Governor emphasized the importance of establishing a mechanism to monitor the on-field performance of sports officials and linking their promotions to measurable performance outcomes.
Discussions were held on improving transportation facilities for athletes participating in national-level competitions. The Hon. Governor instructed that buses belonging to the provincial ministries be utilized for this purpose. Further discussions focused on establishing a mechanism to select one school from each division to serve as a training center, ensuring continuous sports training. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education informed that arrangements are underway to renovate and maintain the grounds of schools in each zone using provincial funds.
It was noted that, since the identification and preparation of players for national-level competitions currently takes place only after the conclusion of provincial-level competitions, athletes are unable to achieve success at the national level without adequate training. It was therefore decided that, in the future, players eligible for national-level competitions will be identified based on results from divisional-level competitions and provided with continuous training. Additionally, a request was made to increase the nutritional allowance provided to athletes to support their performance
It was decided to introduce a Sports Week in schools across the province, alongside a program to clean and maintain school grounds. In addition, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education stated that steps will be taken to reissue the circular prohibiting the sale of unhealthy foods in school canteens.
Sports officials also proposed the development of not only first-class teams but also second-tier teams, noting that this approach could help produce a greater number of accomplished athletes. It was highlighted that parents, teachers, and school principals sometimes obstruct the continuous training of high-performing students, interfering with both their sports and education. The Governor suggested that this issue could be addressed by organizing students involved in sports into dedicated groups and conducting special classes to balance their academic and athletic commitments.
Furthermore, the Governor emphasized the importance of sports instructors and officials in schools working collaboratively, noting that many challenges can be avoided by jointly preparing the annual sports calendar. He also instructed the Provincial Director to present a comprehensive plan for the development of sports across the province.
The discussion was attended by the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, the Provincial Director of Sports, the District Sports Officer, and the Divisional Secretariat Sports Officers.
