Sri Lanka’s Sports Sector is in Free Fall

This is not merely a boxing crisis, it is a national disgrace that plagues virtually every sport in the country. Sports management bodies are not just ineffective; many are effectively dead, blind, or utterly defunct. They have failed athletes, failed the nation, and continue to operate with impunity.

Recently, a Sri Lankan team heading to an Asian competition was shamelessly told to find their own funds. These determined athletes and their families rose to the challenge, some parents even pawned precious belongings to secure passage. Against all odds, the team fought back to claim runners-up, with one outstanding player earning both Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final. This is not a heart-warming tale of resilience. It is a damning exposure of institutional failure and criminal neglect.

The Ministry of Sports cannot remain a silent spectator any longer. This systematic abandonment of our athletes must end immediately. Our youth, robbed of legitimate platforms and institutional support, will be driven towards far more dangerous alternatives, with consequences that will haunt the nation for generations.

Sports is not a luxury. It builds discipline, fosters national unity, develops character, and serves as a powerful instrument of soft power. 

The Ministry, national sports federations, and the government must act decisively and without further delay. Revive dormant bodies, establish transparent and adequate funding mechanisms, and create a merit-based support system worthy of our athletes. Cosmetic statements and empty promises will no longer suffice.

Mahil Dole

Senior Superintendent of Police (Retd.) Author, Security Beyond Enforcement: Practical Approaches for a Safer Nation