Sports hostels to be taken over by military

The two sports hostels attached to the Sports Development Department and located at Torrington Square in Reid Avenue are likely to be handed over to the military, Sports Ministry sources revealed.

The Ministry of Sports and the Sports Development Department have received a number of complaints that the two sports hostels have been utilised by outsiders for consumption of alcohol and for several other indiscipline acts.

The Sports Ministry sources further revealed that some of the sportsmen and sportswomen have occupied the same room for overnight stay and they have failed to maintain law and order in the recent past.

As a result, the Sports Ministry is now planning to hand over all administration work of these two sports hostels to the military with the hope of restoring law and order.

Nearly 400 athletes are currently based at the two sports hostels including 200 sportsmen and sportswomen who are training for the 2019 South Asian Games (SAG).

“We need to maintain discipline among these athletes and after consulting with the Secretary to the Sports Ministry I would propose to the Sports Minister to hand over the management of the two sports hostels to the military,” said Dhammika Muthugala, Director General of the Sports Development Department.

“We have seen an increase in the number of doping cases in the country in the recent past and the main reason for this is because there is lack of discipline among athletes,” added Muthugala.