Sports, competition: Under 13 children under scrutiny...

In February this year, the Ministry of Education prohibited children in the Under-13 category from participating in competitive sport.

The Director of School Sports noted that the decision was arrived at following discussions that also involved the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Health.
He said that another intention of this regulation was to prevent children from undergoing physical and psychological crises.

Susantha Mendis, Secretary - Schools Rugby Association said,

“The way we see it, it is both good and bad. It's fifty-fifty. It is children who have finished their Year 5 Examinations that go in for sports. The problem with removing the competitive element is that children are deprived of the opportunity to participate in sport. In the long term this could prove to be problematic for sport.”

The Secretary of the Sri Lanka Chess Association Lakshman Wijeysudera points out that tournaments organised by the World Chess Association, even have an Under-5 age group.

He points out that the new regulation would prevent Sri Lanka from being represented in these age groups at the tournaments.

The President of the Sri Lanka Wushu Association, Manel Dharmakeerthi too points out that this effort to address physical and psychological stresses faced by children, will not be successful.
He charges that children face such issues due to the lack of facilities and mistakes in sports administration.
He says it is unjust to deprive children of opportunities while facing to address the real problem.

The Director General of Sports, Ranjani Jayakody also accepts that it is impractical to enforce this regulation in the case of every sport.
She says that a committee has been appointed to identify sports where the regulation should be enforced.

Will this committee provide a just and acceptable determination'?
Shouldn’t regulations for sport be subject to broad discussion prior to enforcement?
The Bitter Truth will keep a close watch.