Olympic Dreams Dashed by Neglected Facilities
Over the past few months, Sri Lankan athletes have crisscrossed the globe, competing in various events, all with one goal: securing that elusive Olympic berth. However, their training grounds tell a different story: one of neglect and decay.
The Cow Fields of Elite Aspirations
Sri Lanka boasts two stadiums with built-in synthetic tracks – Sugathadasa Stadium and the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama – but negligible attention from authorities have turned these facilities into veritable death traps for athletes. The once promising tracks now resemble nothing more than cow fields.
Sugathadasa Stadium: A Costly Misstep
The Sugathadasa Stadium’s synthetic track, laid in 2018 at a cost of Rs 244 million, now lies unusable due to a lack of proper maintenance. In 2019, the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) enlisted the Sports Lab of the United Kingdom to assess the track. Their report paints a grim picture: “The track is showing excessive signs of wear and tear for its age.” Poor management, misuse, and neglect have taken their toll. No maintenance has been performed, leading to cleaning issues, localized drainage problems, and necessary repairs left unaddressed.
Diyagama’s Last Stand
Diyagama’s warm-up track, now the sole viable competition venue in Sri Lanka, faces a similar fate. Overuse is unavoidable, and the main track at Diyagama Stadium has been completely neglected. The adjacent pavilion building, once a hub for athletes and officials, now stands abandoned. Washrooms, doping control rooms, and seating areas lie unused. Authorities missed an opportunity to salvage the building by neglecting to install a new roof after removing the old, broken one.
A Billion-Rupee Dilemma
The project cost, initially pegged at 160 euros per rupee, would now exceed Rs 1 billion to re-lay the Sugathadasa track. The contractor’s five-year warranty expired in 2023, leaving the stadium in disrepair.
Officials have repeatedly notified the Sports Ministry about these issues, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears and lost in bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the pictures tell a stark tale: Sugathadasa Stadium’s deterioration and Diyagama’s crumbling pavilion.
Unfulfilled Promises: A Disheartening Reality
Every Minister, every government has made several promises to athletes. From new tracks in Nuwaraeliya, Ampara, and Matale to constructing five 130M training tracks, the commitments were meant to elevate Sri Lanka’s sports infrastructure. Even the present Sports Minister Harin Fernando, during his earlier tenure in 2019, pledged to build a new track in Bogambara Stadium in Kandy. However, these promises have become hollow echoes, as authorities fail to maintain even the existing facilities.
Athletes Face a Daunting Task
As Sri Lanka’s athletes strive for Olympic and world championship glory, they confront an uphill battle. The dream of victory remains distant, with direct qualification marks increasingly out of reach. Year by year, the challenge toughens. To have any shot at success, our athletes urgently require top-notch facilities. If the current situation persists, Sri Lankan athletics risks falling into further slumber.
