A review of the 2025 budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, along with initial discussions on the 2026 budget proposals, was held this morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The meeting examined the 2025 allocations to eight institutions under the Ministry and assessed the progress of ongoing projects. President Dissanayake noted that while the previous budget provided adequate funding, there has been dissatisfaction over the proper utilisation of these funds. He stressed that budgetary provisions must be fully spent within the financial year to deliver tangible benefits to the public.
For 2026, the President called for proposals aimed at building a strong sports culture, improving sports infrastructure, identifying athletes with international potential, and elevating them to global competition. He emphasised that investments in sports serve broader purposes, including health improvement, crime reduction, drug prevention, social cohesion, and workforce development.
Highlighting the role of training and technology, the President urged the Ministry to provide athletes with advanced resources. He also instructed officials to expedite renovations at the Sugathadasa Stadium and other sports complexes across the country, employ experts for specialised infrastructure work, and seek international consultancy services.
School sports development was also prioritised, with the President expressing readiness to allocate necessary funds. He further instructed ministry officials to prepare an integrated national plan for sports development.
The meeting also discussed youth-focused programmes inspired by the 2025 National Youth Conference.
The event was attended by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu and Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other senior ministry officials.
