PRESS RELEASE: NOC Sri Lanka Commences Annual Athlete Forum 2025 with Focus on Athlete Well-Being and Education

Colombo, 17 December 2025 - The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) successfully commenced the Annual Athlete Forum 2025 on 17 December 2025 at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, marking the start of a two-day residential programme dedicated to athlete education, empowerment, and holistic development.

The forum, organized by the Athletes’ Commission of NOC Sri Lanka with the support of the International Olympic Committee through Olympic Solidarity, brought together 58 athletes representing a wide range of Olympic and Paralympic sports from across the country.

The opening ceremony was graced by the Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka, Mr. Rifdy Fahmy, the Treasurer of NOC Sri Lanka and Chairman of the Education Committee, Mr. Prithiviraj Perera, and the General Manager of NOC Sri Lanka, Mr. Lal Wickremtunge.

Delivering the opening remarks, Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission of NOC Sri Lanka and three-time Olympian, Mr. Niluka Karunaratne OLY, emphasized that the Annual Athlete Forum has been carefully curated with athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement. He highlighted that the programme aims to create a safe and supportive environment that prioritizes athlete well-being while fostering personal and professional growth. He further noted that the forum is structured around ten key topics to be delivered over the two days, addressing critical areas relevant to modern athletes.

Day One of the forum featured five expert-led sessions covering essential aspects of athlete development. The sessions included Olympic Values, conducted by the National Course Director of NOC Sri Lanka, Group Captain Nalin de Silva; Sports Nutrition, delivered by renowned Sports Nutritionist Professor Ranil Jayawardena; Prevention of Competition Manipulation, presented by the Single Point of Contact for Prevention of Competition Manipulation at NOC Sri Lanka, Mr. Gobinath Sivarajah; Athlete Safeguarding, led by IOC Certified Safeguarding Officer of NOC Sri Lanka, Ms. Hiruni Munasinghe; and Anti-Doping and ADAMS, conducted by the Director General of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya. The anti-doping session was also attended by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, Dr. Lalisha Kahatapitiya, who addressed the athletes and emphasized the importance of clean sport.

The first day concluded with interactive team-building activities designed to encourage collaboration, strengthen peer connections, and promote camaraderie among athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds.

The Annual Athlete Forum 2025 reflects NOC Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to athlete-centered development and education, ensuring that athletes are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and support systems necessary to succeed both during and beyond their sporting careers.