Sri Lanka NOC extends helping hand to athletes affected by lockdown

Sri Lanka at the opening ceremony of the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal. © ThePapare.com
Sri Lanka at the opening ceremony of the 2019 South Asian Games in Nepal. © ThePapare.com

Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 22, 2020: The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has initiated a programme in collaboration with its Athletes’ Commission to identify and aid athletes affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“We began this programme in early April to look into the wellbeing of athletes who are undergoing difficulties,” revealed Maxwell De Silva, Secretary General of Sri Lanka NOC, referring to food and other daily necessities.

“Most athletes are now well aware of the programme. Last week we were informed of an athlete in the Puttalam region who had been going through a tough time to find goods to survive the day. The NOC acted promptly to provide this athlete with all the necessary needs,” de Silva said.

Sri Lanka has been in total lockdown with an island-wide curfew in place for more than a month in the battle to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

De Silva revealed that the initiative will be active even after the current ‘red alert’ is lifted, as the NOC was highly concerned with the wellbeing of all athletes.

Source: Sunday Times