(Principal- St.Anthony’s Girls School, Panadura)
Sri Lanka is a prominent nation in South Asia, with a Sports history over 100-years old, and 3 world Championships- Billiards, Cricket and Carrom to boot. We have also won 2 Olympic Silver medals in Athletics, and medals at the World Athletic Championships,
“As Principal of a Girls school, I have witnessed the downfall of standards in Sports today. At the time I went to school in the 70’s and 80’s, the standard of Sport was very high, with the whole school taking time out to participate in House and Circuit meets. We witnessed a Sporting mentality in school, with many spectators thronging Sporting events during that time. But, if you look at Sports nowadays, we don't see that situation. Today, we find only limited participation in school Sports. In Cricket, we can see the interest shown by Boys schools, which is not so in Girls schools. However, due to the National School Games (NSG) concept in the 80’s, we could see the keen interest shown by all and how its popularity has increased. At that time, prior to being given teaching appointments, we were asked to undergo Sports training to develop a good knowledge of Sports. Due to this we had a good knowledge of Sports. At that time, there were coaching camps for talented Sportsmen and Sportswomen, which enabled the Education Ministry with a selection process to pick the most talented Sportsmen and Sportswomen. An All-island ‘Top 10’ was selected from each Sport. This system was especially conducted for Athletics, where the best girls and boys enrolled into Sports schools that were conducted those days. Today, nothing like that is conducted and functioning. No such system is being operated, which I feel is a major drawback from the government's end. This is the main cause for the drop in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and South Asian Games (SAG). Hence, we have been able to win Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in all International Sports Championships.
Famous personalities such as Duncan White, L.B. Rosa, Nagalingam Ethiriveerasingam, W. Wimaladasa, Sunil Gunawardena, W.A. Premachandra, Kosala Sahabandu, Susanthika Jayasinghe and school Sports standards. There are other reasons as well, that affect school Sports in Sri Lanka. Today, we see an emerging culture of exam mentality within schools. Schoolchildren are of the mindset that exams are everything. Hence, they no longer participate in Sports. Due to this exam fixation, parents too advocate that exams are more important, and discourage their children from Sports. They influence the teachers as well. Today, we see children have little or no time for Sports. During our time, we kept children back after school for Sports activities, but now it is the opposite. We cannot keep children after school, as they attend tuition classes. Another reason for the drop in Sports standards is the non-availability of trained Sports instructors/coaches. Health and Physical Education have been made mandatory subjects by the school authorities. But unfortunately, there are no capable teachers at present. Hence, this particular subject is tutored by a teacher entirely new to it. In the recent past, schools have not enrolled any Physical Training Instructors (PTI). The PTIs of the 80’s are now too old/outdated. Hence, the services of those PTI’s are not acceptable now. Due to this, private schools have engaged professional coaches to address this lacuna, which, unfortunately, all schools cannot afford. Also, there are other leading Athletes, have put this little island in the Indian ocean on the Athletic map of the world.
After the introduction of the National School Games in 1984, our Athletes have won more medals in international competitions, when compared with the achievements before 1984. The Athletes that emerged from this programme, still maintain their records at Asian level. some PTIs who like to remain with the same popular schools and with centrally located schools. They shun transfers to outstation schools. Unlike in the past, at present, schools don’t get sports equipment from the Education Ministry. Sports equipment is very expensive now, and most schools cannot afford them. Another reason for the drop in school Sports standards is due to the Principal's non-involvement in Sports. Most Principals want their school to excel in studies with excellent results at exams. The plans we receive from the Education Ministry too is to improve the standard of Education and not the standard of Sports. If there is to be an improvement in the standard of Sports, the Education Ministry should give a proper plan. Right now, we must nurture the NSG concept. The Education Ministry should enlighten parents and children that, participation in Sports too, along with exam success enhances employability after leaving school. Through this type of awareness programme, in another 5-10 years time, we can produce Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the calibre of Sugath Thilakaratne, Damayanthi Darsha, Sriyani Kulawansa, Ramani Mangalika, Thilaka Jinadasa and Olympic Silver medalist in 2000, Susanthika Jayasinghe.”
Against this backdrop, many critics say there is a drop in Sports standards in Sri Lanka, while there are others who disagree. There is no doubt we have the talent in abundance, but the authorities have not harnessed them constructively, with no long term planning to uplift Sports as a whole islandwide.
Following are views expressed by various personalities on the above: