National Sports Council Appointed to Guide Sports Development in SL

This appointment follows the provisions of the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973 and is aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka's sports sector.

Priyantha Ekanayake, a renowned rugby and basketball player, has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Sports Council. Ekanayake, who captained the Sri Lanka rugby team, has also represented New Zealand and Wales in rugby and served as president of both the Sri Lanka Rugby Union and the Asian Rugby Union.

In addition to the Chairman, the following distinguished individuals were appointed as members of the Council:

• Samantha Nanayakkara – Professor of Sports Studies and Sports Psychologist at the University of Colombo, the first female Professor of Sports in Sri Lanka, and a basketball player at the university level.
• Rukman Wekadapola – Advisor and sports referee for the International Boxing Association, university lecturer, and sports teacher.
• Sidath Wettamuni – Former cricketer who played Test cricket and One Day Internationals as an opening batsman from 1982-1987.
• Chanaka Jayamaha – Supreme Court lawyer and former Non-Executive Independent Director of Colombo Dockyard PLC.
• Rohan Abeykoon – Former Sri Lankan rugby player, captain of the Rugby 7s team, and ex-chairman of the National Rugby Selection Committee.
• Niroshan Wijeyakoon – Former Olympic badminton player, Sri Lanka Badminton Champion, and former Chairman of the National Selection Committee.
• Murad Ismail – Involved with the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Federation and a former member of the Golf Selection Committee.
• Roshan Mahanama – Former cricketer and key member of Sri Lanka's 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning team, and a former international cricket umpire.
• C. Ratnamudali – Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa and sports regulatory expert, with a background in university-level sports.
• Sriyani Kulavansa – Olympian and medalist at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, with a record in the South Asian Games steeplechase event.
• Malik J. Fernando – Co-Chairman of Dilma Private Limited.
• Shanitha Fernando – Former rugby player with CR & FC rugby team, captain in 1994, and member of the national rugby team from 1994 to 1998.

The appointment ceremony took place today at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Eranga Gunasekara, also present. This new council is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Sri Lankan sports by providing expert advice and oversight.