The Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Committee have come together to have a resolution where athletes from Sri Lanka need, from here on, to be on the top 6 (six) in Asia if they are to represent the country in leading international competitions such as the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, etc.
The above decision has been a result of a joint meeting which Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and NOC Chairman Hemasiri Fernando have took part in and held on Tuesday in Colombo.
The responsibility to decide on the representation in premier athletics events in future has officially been given to a committee comprising Prof. Arjun de Silva, Sunil Jayaweera and Dhammika Ranatunga.
The new qualification standard does not apply to the South Asian Games.
The closest reason for such a decision has reportedly been the fact that the country’s 104-athlete strong contingent, which went to the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Scotland, returning home with a mere single medal.
The now-active six-only criterion is expected to make Sri Lankan representation, in future in the leading international athletic events, more medal-oreinted then being just representational.
