Are we backing our athletes
Nadeeka Lakmali’s masterful performance with the javelin at the World Championships proved that present Lankan athletes possess the potential to excel on the international circuit. However, are they being sufficiently supported and guided so that they can convert this sizable talent into tangible results?
 Athletes here don’t get proper support. We have talent but there is no sponsorship. Even those who do well don’t get support. I couldn’t train properly when I was here so I had to go to the UK. We don’t even have proper equipment. Although we have talent it is not looked after. - Anne Maheshi Silva (Javelin thrower) |
 The support athletes receive is just not enough. If you take junior athletes, the parents have to do everything from finding a coach and sending them to grounds. Young athletes are not even put on any special nutritional programme. - Bandula de Silva (Parent of junior athlete) |
 I think it is quite popular here now and it is being supported okay in terms of facilities and training. Athletes could get more sponsorship though. But in a few more years I feel things will improve and we will do well at international meets. - Max Barnes (Junior athlete) |
 There are problems with planning. Even when Nadeeka Lakmali was at the World Championships her coach couldn’t go. Things like these affect the athletes’ performances. So you can’t expect them to perform well and bring medals. - Pradeep Nishantha (Athletics coach) |
 As a junior athlete the support I get is only from my school. Right now that is enough but I don’t know about the future. You don’t see the association or the Ministry helping athletes that much with coaches and facilities. - Sithira Fernando (Junior athlete) |
 I don’t think that athletes are given enough support here. In Sri Lanka there has been minus development in athletics. Support is mainly given to only athletes from the three forces. Even our coaches are not updated with the latest techniques. There are IAAF courses that they should attend. - Tornado Jayasundera (Mercantile Athletics Association Secretary) |