School sports: Red light to all sports from Education Ministry

The Ministry of Education has taken a strong stance in calling off all sports events and programmes lined up at school level for 2020 according to Daya Bandara, its Director for Sports and Physical Education. 

Bandara stated that all schools have been officially notified not to organise or conduct any events or programmes related to sports for the remaining period of the year. 

The Ministry of Education has circulated the official statement in this regard to all schools from October 8. 

Bandara confirmed that the Ministry of Education will not take the risk of exposing schoolchildren to the latest outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"We have advised all school officials not to think of any sports related activities for the remainder of this year. With the present situation we will need to obtain strong recommendations and a firm green light from health authorities before thinking of holding school sports events. But it's uncertain when the focus on school sports will be given priority with the present condition," Bandara stated. 

Before the second COVDI-19 wave broke out in Sri Lanka last week, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sports held several rounds of discussions to resume sports activities at school level. 

Certain sports events were already taking place and authorities were in discussion to resume school cricket and rugby competitions with dates being already finalised. 

But with the present situation, authorities are highly unlikely to give priority to school sports activities, until the outbreak is satisfactorily controlled and activities renormalised.