Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-10-03

Community based Sports Development for the control of the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka

- The risk of contacting non‑communicable diseases has increased considerably due to unhealthy food practices, use of tobacco and alcohol and physical inactivity. Especially, the individuals who do not engage in physical exercises have become highly prone to heart diseases. Surveys have revealed that diseases such as diabetes and cancer can be prevented by engaging more in physical exercises and getting accustomed to healthy foods.

By promoting sports among the general public, it would be possible to provide them with more opportunities to engage in physical activities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, the Minister of Sports, to implement a project for the community based sports development, with a view to increasing the ratio of the community engaged in physical activities by 10% within the next three years, was approved in principle by the Cabinet.