Four students of Paragoda Sri Gunarathana junior school have been able to bring six medals to Sri Lanka from the Open Karate and Jikkondo Tournament in India. They have not been given so far an opportunity to enter to a sports school for pursuing their education while further developing their sport skills.
A special meeting was held today (20) with the leadership of The Minister of Education Professor G.L. Pieris and The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksha at the ministry of education for the provision of the opportunity to those children to improve their sports skills. At this occasion these four children were directed to Batemulla National School and a program was also designed for the development of the future of these children after having discussions with Mr. A.W.W. Karunasingha the principal of that school and Mr. Gamini Jayawardana the principal of Mahinda Vidyalaya, Galle the sports school in Galle District.
The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksha mentioned at this occasion that the steps must be taken in the future to admit children to sports schools giving priority to sport skills.
The minister emphasized that the school contributes to create a sportsman from the age of 06 till 19 years and the responsibility of identifying the sports skills of students and developing them lies with the school. Especially, when the children are admitted to sports schools in this country, the priority must be given to the students who show their talents in the playground but not the results at the scholarship examination. The minister further mentioned that in the future he expects to work in close collaboration with the ministry of education.
The children who participated and obtained medals in the Open Karate Tournament in India, Desindu Samarasingha, Hirun Jayawardana, Malitha Madushan and Keshara Buddhimal and their trainer Mr. Ruwan Nissanka had joined in this occasion. And also a gathering of officers including the Secretary of the Ministry of Education Professor Kapila Perera, Additional Secretary for School Affairs Mr. L.M.D. Dharmasena, the Director of National Schools Mr. K.L.G. Kithsiri, the Director of Sports Mr. Daya Bandara and the Assistant Directress of Education Ms. Ishani Wettasingha had participated in this occasion.
