Project Sri Lanka

At the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka campus at Belihuloya:

Professor McKay and Dr Warburton discussed the imminent BSc, Physical Education and BSc, Sports Sciences & Management degrees in the Faculty of Applied Sciences with Professor Mahaliyanaarachichi, Dr Samarakoon, the Acting Vice Chancellor, the Dean of Applied Sciences, the Director of Sport and several coaches; they also inspected the sports facilities.

At Diyatalawa Military Academy (DMA):  

The Diyatalawata Military Academy is formally affiliated with the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. The Durham visitors discussed the specific needs of DMA personnel with the Commandant, Director of Sport. They also inspected the sports facilities and made recommendations on how Durham might support the work of this academy through mutually beneficial programmes.

At the University of Peradeniya, Kandy:

The Durham team discussed Peradeniya's Diploma in Sports Medicine with the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, the Head of the Department of Education, the Director of Sport and several coaches. They also inspected the sports facilities and once again discussed potential collaborations for mutual benefit.

At the University of Kelaniya:

The Durham team heard an informative presentation on the organisation of competitive sport by the President of the Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA), which was also attended by the Directors of Sport from almost all universities in the country. This in itself led to networking and discussion of ideas for transforming the universities' sporting agendas at national level on the island.

Following on from this, they discussed Kelaniya's recently launched BA, Sport and Recreation Management degree in the Faculty of Social Sciences with the Vice-Chancellor.

Further discussions were also held with Professor Mahalianaarachichi about potential partnerships in the field of sports and other academic areas which are being followed through by the Project Director.

In Colombo:

Professor McKay and Dr Warburton held strategically important meetings with the Minister for Higher Education, discussing national planning and social aspects of sports and sports science, and the general framework and policy framework for developing such areas in Sri Lankan universities.

They were struck by the virtually unanimous enthusiasm for developing sports participation and sport science in Sri Lanka; everyone they spoke to believed that sport has a range of desirable educational, mental, physical, social, economic, moral and political benefits

Sport science is a new academic discipline in Sri Lanka so there are only a few specialist scholars in the field and academic programs rely very heavily on the support of staff in traditional subjects (e.g. staff in a School of Medicine teaching Sports Medicine); moreover, most research and teaching facilities are very basic. Collaborative programmes involving both staff and students could address a wide range of development issues in the field.

Virtually everyone indicated that until sport science matured, the best way to develop their staff was via extended visits by foreign academics with expertise in nutrition, physiology, psychology, PE and coaching. Clearly Durham is in the position to be a leading player in such programmes. The Sri Lankan Universities Sports Association has a solid competitive program, but the situation regarding both recreational sport and engagement with local communities varies significantly across campuses.

Following on from this highly informative exploratory visit, the following suggested actions are being discussed:

An Exchange Programme

1. A one week visit to Durham by a small group of outstanding senior students and Directors of Sport from DMA and Sri Lankan universities to observe research, teaching and coaching programs in Durham and regional universities would be outstandingly useful - and have benefits to all parties.
2. A one week visit by staff from Durham to run workshops for DMA and Sabaragamuwa staff on DMA on nutrition, physiology and psychology would again be significantly beneficial to all concerned and would lead to joint research programmes.
3. A One week visit by several coaches from Team Durham to run workshops on sporting activities for DMA cadets, Sabaragamuwa students and the local communities would further embed the goals of community-based Project Sri Lanka on the island and lead to significant benefits to students and staff in both countries.
4. Short placements for outstanding senior Durham students to run sporting and PE activities in primary and secondary schools and local communities at DMA and Sabaragamuwa would have obvious mutual benefits in terms of both developing sports skills but also the 'internationalising' of the student experience and once more, the further embedding of the goals of the Sri Lanka Project.