State-run sports venues to go private
In a major development, the Government is to enter into public-private partnerships (PPPs) to maintain all State-owned sports complexes and stadiums in the country. Accordingly, all stadiums and grounds at national, provincial and district levels owned and managed by the Sports Ministry or the Sports Development Department or funded by the same will be brought under the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority, which is now empowered to enter into PPPs for their management.
The Cabinet paper submitted by the Sports Minister was approved as it is believed these arrangements will help regularise improvements, operations and maintenance of playgrounds and sports complexes.
The paper, presented on Monday, says most of these venues at provincial and district level, are not run properly, and that this was a key stumbling block in the growth sportsmen and women. Therefore, the Sports Ministry was keen to encourage private sector involvement. The Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority was established by the Act No. 17 of 1999 to provide venue facilities for national and international sports events and training facilities for athletes.