Sunday Observer 31/3/2013
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2013/03/31/spo03.asp
”It is the vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make sports compulsory for schoolchildren after the necessary medical tests. They can select the sports of their choice. If you cannot run or throw the Shot Put, do not despair. There are many other sports for you to select from,” said the Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake.
He made these observations when he addressed the parents and schoolchildren of Vidyartha College, Kandy, at their annual Sports meet held at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy on Friday afternoon.
Elaborating further he said that sports teaches us many things such as team work, leadership, accept both victory and defeat in the same vein and above all gets the best in a child. When this child leaves the school and enters the society he will be a responsible citizen as sports had laid an excellent foundation.
It was with this objective that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had brought a rule that a school going child should participate at least in one sports in school and this sport will be of his or her choice.........