Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 24, 2026: The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka celebrated Olympic Day 2026 in grand fashion by hosting a large and vibrant gathering of school students, local athletes and the general public at Independence Square in the heart of the capital Colombo.
Among the main dignitaries at the ceremony held on Tuesday, June 23, was the Hon. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport, Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Naoaki Kamoshida, President of the Sri Lanka NOC Asanga Seneviratne, Vice President and OCA Executive Board member Niloo Jayatilake, and NOC Secretary General Rifdy Fahmy.
Also attending was Sri Lanka’s Olympic silver medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe and the Director General of the Department of Sports Development, S. Achchuden.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage reminded the large crowd of mostly school children that true sportsmanship was not merely about winning.
“The friendship and positive relationships that must exist between athletes constitute the first discipline of any sport. Every athlete must practice respecting their opponents as well as their fellow teammates to the utmost degree. Rather than just talent, it is this respect and discipline that the future generation must master through sports,” the Minister noted.
Special awareness programmes were also featured to highlight Olympic values.
