Colombo, 08 July 2026 – The Athletes' Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) successfully concluded the Athletes Forum 2026, a two-day residential athlete development programme designed to prepare Sri Lanka's emerging sporting talent for the demands of high-performance sport and life beyond competition.

 

Organised under the leadership of Mr. Niluka Karunaratne OLY, Chairman of the Athletes' Commission of NOC Sri Lanka, the forum was driven by the Athletes First concept, an initiative conceived by the Mr. Karunaratne himself 2 years ago to ensure that athletes remain at the heart of every initiative the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka does.

 

Held on 1 and 2 July, the forum brought together 62 athletes representing over 25 sports (National Federations), achieving 100% gender parity, underscoring the NOC Sri Lanka's commitment to inclusive athlete development and equal opportunities across the sporting landscape.

 

The intensive programme was carefully curated to provide athletes with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to excel both on and off the field of play. the programme featured an exceptional panel of experts who shared their knowledge across a range of critical subjects that extend beyond technical sporting performance. Group Captain Nalin de Silva, National Course Director of NOC Sri Lanka, introduced athletes to Olympic Values, while Ms. Hiruni Munasinghe, IOC Certified Safeguarding Officer, delivered a session on Athlete Safeguarding. Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya, Director General of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, conducted an in-depth session on Anti-Doping and ADAMS, and veteran publisher and journalist Mr. Lal Wickramatunge guided athletes on Communicating with Confidence: Athletes in the Media Spotlight.

 

The programme also featured Mr. Gobinath Sivarajah, Single Point of Contact for the Prevention of Competition Manipulation (PMC) at NOC Sri Lanka, who educated athletes on protecting the integrity of sport. Professor Ranil Jayawardena delivered a session on Sports Nutrition, Professor Chathuranga Ranasinghe addressed Sports Medicine and Injury Prevention, and Mr. Guy Rosenberg conducted a session on Athletes' Mental Health and Meditation. Mr. Niluka Karunaratne OLY also introduced athletes to the opportunities available through the Athlete365 platform, while Mr. Sajith Jayalal, Director of the National Institute of Sports Science, concluded the educational programme with a session on Motivation and Team Building.

 

The closing ceremony was graced by the only living Sri Lankan Olympic medallist, Dehsabandu Susanthika Jayasinghe OLY (Silver Medallist at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney), inspiring the athletes to embrace resilience, continuous learning and excellence throughout their sporting journeys.

 

Also in attendance was Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, whose presence reaffirmed the Committee's commitment to investing in the continuous development of Sri Lankan athletes and supporting them beyond the field of play.

 

The programme concluded with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, many describing the forum as one of the most impactful athlete development initiatives they had attended. Athletes praised the programme for strengthening their confidence, expanding their understanding of key aspects of elite sport beyond technical performance, and inspiring them to pursue their Olympic ambitions with renewed determination. Many also highlighted the value of interacting with athletes from diverse sporting disciplines, creating friendships and networks that will continue beyond the forum.

 

The Athletes Forum continues to reflect the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka's vision of developing well-rounded athletes who are not only equipped to compete at the highest international level but are also empowered to become ambassadors of integrity, leadership and Olympic values within their respective sports and communities.

 

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