Niluka’s performances impress Scottish Sports Minister Shona
View(s):Scottish Public Health and Sports Minister, Shona Robison, said her recent visit to Sri Lanka during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) had provided her with an opportunity to meet with key administrators and athletes from the country’s sporting circle.
Ms. Robison, whose nation will play host to the Commonwealth Games in July, explained that this contingent included her Lankan counterpart Mahindananda Aluthgamage and badminton star Niluka Karunaratne.
Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison
“During my time in Colombo I was delighted to meet some of the young people who will be representing Sri Lanka at the Games. I also met Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to discuss Scotland’s readiness to host the Games and to learn more about Sri Lanka’s plans for participation,” she said.
She added that after speaking to Karunaratne in Colombo she “was lucky enough to watch him compete at the Badminton Championships at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow. He’s a lovely young man and great athlete who will be one to watch in July.”
Allaying possible Lankan fears about cold weather at the Games, the Scottish Sports Minister stressed, “Scotland’s weather is very different from Sri Lanka, however the Games take place in July – the height of Scottish summertime – which will provide good conditions and weather for competitors.
Speaking separately about the Commonwealth Games, which run from July 23 to August 3 in the Scottish capital of Glasgow, Minister Robison said,” We want to see a lasting legacy from the Games. It offers us an exceptional opportunity to make Scotland healthier, help our businesses to prosper and celebrate our modern and vibrant culture both at home and on the world stage.
“These truly are Games for everyone, and by uniting the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth it presents an unrivalled opportunity for Scotland to make new connections and deepen existing relationships with our friends in the Commonwealth and show that Scotland is a great place to live, work and invest.”