It was a new dawn for Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) as the Bimal Wijayasinghe-led faction, a fresh committee featuring many first-time administrators, sealed a landslide victory over the team backed by the old guard last week. The result was a clear signal from the country’s athletics fraternity, reflecting their demand for fresh vision and change to shape the future of athletics.
Newly elected Secretary Madhawa Bandara Senarath – a former athlete, coach, and athletics analyst– outlined their mission to reshape athletics under what he described as an athlete-centered policy.
“We already have talented athletes. We just need to manage them and create the right environment to help them reach their full potential,” Senarath said, describing several novel concepts to be introduced to transform Sri Lanka’s athletics landscape.
Competition Period
“Sri Lanka has not had a proper competition calendar. Events began as early as April and continued until late November. We will immediately introduce a structured competition period, likely from June to August, so that all major meets can be aligned. This will allow athletes to train with a plan and peak at the right time.”
Weekly Competitions
“During the competition period, we hope to introduce weekly meets, similar to the international season. Athletes can choose which competitions and events to enter depending on their training plans. This will give national athletes more opportunities, boost their rankings, and improve performances.”
Encouraging Member Clubs
“We won’t be hosting all competitions ourselves. Member clubs will be encouraged to organize events during the season, and we will support them with expertise and equipment.”
National Pools
“Three national pools will be introduced: Elite 20, Elite 50, and Elite 100. Elite 20 will include athletes with chances of qualifying for World Championships or the Olympics. Elite 50 will cover athletes capable of competing at Asian Games, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Elite 100 will include athletes targeting South Asian Championships, ensuring at least one representative (preferably two) from every track and field discipline.”
Individual Athlete Plans
“There will be a sit down with coaches and athletes to plan their seasons according to individual goals. Athletes will not be forced into excessive competitions or relays that could jeopardize future medal prospects. Instead, we will focus on clarity and long-term success.”
International Competition
“We will ensure that all national champions get at least one international competition per year, which is not the case at present.”
Combined Events
“Combined events such as Decathlon and heptathlon are almost extinct in Sri Lanka due to lack of competition. These are excellent developmental events, and we plan to revive them with special programs.”
Hosting Championships
“We hope to host the South Asian Championships in Sri Lanka. With India also hosting, we can make it a biennial event. Regular regional competitions will restore excitement, sponsorship, and media coverage, similar to the impact of the South Asian Games in the 1990s and early 2000s.”
Athlete Career and Education
“We plan to introduce a career and education program to support athletes in mental health, academics, financial management, and life skills.”
Technology
“We want to bring modern technology into athletics. A Centralized Athlete Management System (CAMS) will be introduced to manage statistics and athlete information as first step “
Annual Awards
“The Sri Lanka Athletics Awards will be launched as an annual event to recognize athletes, coaches, and officials. Awards will include Athlete of the Year, National Champions, and certificates for the top ten performances in each discipline.”
Funding
“For now, SLA largely depends on Sports Ministry funding. But we hope to expand our options. Our president, with his corporate background, already has connections for sponsorship. We will also seek support from World Athletics, the National Olympic Committee, and private donors to make SLA a self-sufficient association.”
Next Steps
SLA will hold its first committee meeting on Monday (16), where subcommittees will be appointed. Non-executive members, including representatives from the armed forces, will also be added. Senarath emphasized urgency, noting that delays in the SLA election have already set back the calendar year.
The team is backed by veterans of athletics, including two‑time SLA President and seasoned administrator Sunil Jayaweera, veteran coach Susantha Fernando, former national champion and entrepreneur Talavou Alailima, who have vowed to work behind the scenes for the betterment of the country’s athletics.