The Department of Sports Development, operating under the central Ministry of Sports, is prepared to provide the facilities required for the development of sports clubs and school sports activities. Therefore, the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, requested District Secretaries to take the necessary steps to submit relevant requests without delay.
A special discussion on sports development in the Northern Province was held this evening – on Friday, 12th of June 2026, at the Governor’s Secretariat.
Speaking at the beginning of the discussion, the Governor stated that we had recently held discussions with S. Achchuthan, Director General of the Department of Sports Development, regarding the development of the sports sector. As a result, several urgent measures now need to be implemented.
The Governor further emphasized that sports officers should properly identify the development needs of schools, sports clubs, and other sports – related institutions in the Northern Province. By submitting these requirements to the Department of Sports Development through the District Secretaries, the province would be able to obtain the necessary assistance.
He also noted that major projects for the province must first be prepared by the Provincial Sports Department, approved by the Department of Sports Development, and awarded through a tender process before funds can be released. However, due to the limited time available to implement large-scale projects within the current year, he urged officials to prioritize and submit only those projects that can realistically be completed during this year.
Subsequently, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Education stated that a list of sports equipment required by schools conducting sports training programmes in the province had already been prepared. These requirements would be forwarded to the District Secretaries through the Zonal Directors of Education. He also pointed out that a request had been made for suitable land in the Jaffna District to establish a sports ground.
Meanwhile, it was reported that suitable land for a sports ground had been identified in the Mullaitivu District and that proposals for the project were currently being prepared.
In his remarks, the Jaffna District Secretary explained the practical difficulties involved in identifying suitable state land within the district. He also noted that certain legal issues relating to land ownership were hindering the provision of assistance to some sports clubs. During the meeting, the Governor instructed the Mannar District Secretary to immediately forward the requests submitted from the Mannar District to the Director General of the Department of Sports Development.
The Governor further directed the relevant authorities to continuously monitor and advance these sports development initiatives.
Among those who participated in the discussion were the Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Education – Northern Province, the District Secretaries of Jaffna and Mannar, Additional District Secretaries from Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Vavuniya, the Director of the Provincial Sports Department, District Sports Officers, and several other officials.
