With the aim of enhancing the sports skills of the youth of Valikamam West, the official inauguration ceremony of the project to modernize the Chankanai Y.M.H.A. Volleyball Ground with modern facilities was held recently in a grand manner.
The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, presided over the ceremony, and the Minister officially inaugurated the relevant renovation works.
The Hon. Karunanathan Ilankumaran, Member of Parliament and Hon. Dr. S. Speaking at the event, Mr. Sribhavanandaraja pointed out the importance of developing sports facilities in the Northern Province and creating high-quality infrastructure for the youth.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage stated that the government is implementing a number of development projects by allocating a large amount of money according to a systematic plan to raise the standard of sports in the Northern Province.
The Minister further expressed his views and said that it is regrettable that certain groups are trying to systematically delay and obstruct certain development projects that directly affect the future of the youth for political purposes. The Minister pointed out that the real welfare of the people is not the aim of some people, but to frustrate the people-friendly development programs implemented by the National People’s Powers Government.
For example, the Minister reminded that despite the initial work having been started on the Indoor Stadium project, which has been a long-standing dream of the youth of Jaffna, the progress has been hampered due to various pressures.
The Minister also stated that the construction work of the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium will also resume as soon as the ongoing renovation work of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board is completed. The Minister assured that the necessary financial provisions have already been allocated for this, so the project will proceed without any hindrance.
The Minister emphasized that the government serves by identifying the real needs of the people and that the government will fulfill that responsibility relentlessly as it is their right to provide sports facilities, basic infrastructure and public services to the people of Jaffna.
In addition, the Chankanai Y.M.H.A. In addition to the existing allocations for the development of the stadium, the Minister promised to allocate additional allocations for the construction of toilet/latrine facilities and security fences as requested by the residents of the area. The Minister also instructed the officials to immediately implement the relevant administrative work.
After the completion of these modernization works, which are being carried out at a total cost of Rs. 4.1 million, the youth of Chankanai and its surrounding areas will have access to high-quality volleyball stadium facilities, while the area will have a standard sports complex that can host district, provincial and national level tournaments.
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