Under a new Colombo Plan project, a 19-member team of Sport Scientists from Edith Cowan University in Australia will spend two weeks in Sri Lanka collaborating with counterparts at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura exchanging views and transferring expertise. This project aims to bring the scientific method to improving the Sri Lankan athletes and the sports sector as a whole. Honorary Consul Rosh Jalagge played a pivotal role in fostering bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Australia and also provided a significant support for the implementation of this project. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for academics to get to know each other, strengthen people-to-people contact, learn of each other’s history, culture and way of life while imparting knowledge to achieve high order outcomes in the field of sport” said Mr Rosh Jalagge, at the reception he hosted for the team prior to their departure.

The Australian Team led by Associate Professor (Adjunct) Hallam Pereira will amongst other things, conduct Sport Science Tests on Sri Lankan athletes to determine shortcomings and help them to reach high performance in sport. Furthermore, the team will demonstrate how Australia conducts Physical Education in schools with a view to encouraging children to enjoy physical activity and take responsibility to look after their own physical and mental health throughout future life.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lankan Institute of Sport Medicine and the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University will also be signed to facilitate the transfer of expertise and the conduct of joint research.