1. Can you first tell us how you became exposed to sports?
My childhood is a bit different from many kids out there having grown up in war-torn Sri Lanka. It was at 24 that I witnessed peace for the first time in my life. Interestingly, the sport has always been a part of me, no sooner had I enrolled for university than I was handed the responsibility of coaching the athletics team.
It was here that I made up for my childhood, I was like a kid in a candy store. I played athletics, hockey, basketball, tennis, cricket, and Elle — a Sri Lankan traditional sport similar to baseball.
I represented the University of Jaffna with pride at national level competitions and captained both the Athletics and Hockey teams.
My charismatic character saw me become Editor, Secretary, and President of the University Sports Council for three years, a first in the history of the university.
I scooped the ‘Best Sportsman of the Year’ accolade at the university in 2011. On top of that, I donned Sri Lanka University colors and broke numerous records while at it.
I can proudly say that I led the university to three successive championships at the national level in 2009, 2010, and 2011- this record still stands — HISTORY!
My passion for Athletics has seen me become a National Technical Official. As we speak, I am the only individual in Sri Lanka with all four levels of the required credentials. I have the highest score in the country too. Before I forget, I am one of the youngest National Technical Officials in Sri Lanka.
2. What were some of your dreams as a child, and how did they change as you become older?
Honestly speaking, I was not a very privileged child. Seeing tomorrow was always a dream because of the bombs and gunshots going off every minute in the country. My life was about surviving bomb blasts, artillery shells, military attacks and so many other things. As soon as the war ended, I wanted to promote peace.
I gave up my profession in the classroom as a statistics lecturer and opted to use sport to promote peace in my community. I started a sports foundation and we celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development Peace (IDSDP) every year on April 6th.
I can proudly say that the international song for IDSDP was composed from the region I come from.
3. While growing up, what was one thing that you wished was different about your country in the sports industry. This could be anything starting from family attitudes, government support, and so on.
The region I come from was war-ravaged, we could not represent Sri Lanka however much we wanted. The talent was there in plenty that’s a fact but could not go to the capital in Colombo for competitions, we were denied the opportunity. Things have since changed now that there is no war.
I just wish this was how things were from inception.
4. After you came to SNU DTM, how did your perspective towards sports and the sport industry change?
It changed by a country mile, it was an amazing feeling I must say! I felt like I was in another world. Sharing the same space with so many different cultures and nationalities is a great feeling.
Studying with 23 different sports aficionados who later became family in a developed country like South Korea will live long in my memory. The Winter Olympic Games changed my perspective on the sport. I now look at things differently. Since then, my goals have changed.
Earlier, my thoughts were within my community, but after I came to DTM, I built a global network that helps me until today. I am confident that we can achieve big things together in the future with this tremendous network.
5. Now, that you are a sport administrator, how do you think you are changing the sport industry in your country?
After my internship at World Taekwondo, I have been involved in many sport development activities. NOC Sri Lanka did not have proper a website and social media presence. After my appointment as Marketing and Media Manager, things have taken a turn for the better.
We now have LinkedIn and Instagram platforms. I can authoritatively tell you that NOC Sri Lanka’s Facebook page is one of the best social media compared to many other NOCs. It’s right up there!
The documentation procedure was also wanting. I have been working day and night to change this. For instance, the organizational structure development, four-year strategic plan, standard forms for office documentation procedures, designing a new marketing emblem, and redesigning the NOC crest that recently got approved from IOC has all been the work of the man you are talking to right now. For decades, this work has been pending but since I joined, all is well.
I played a key role in bringing DTM’s Prof. Borja Garcia to do research on ‘collaborations between the National Olympic Committee and public authorities.’ A report has since been submitted to the IOC in order to reform and modernize the legal framework.
While I was doing my internship at World Taekwondo, I developed a program for Sri Lanka dubbed ‘Road to Champion.’ This, to empower the destitute children through taekwondo. Dr. Chungwon Choue, the President of World Taekwondo visited Sri Lanka in January 2020 to launch the project and the GCS Sri Lanka chapter was also inaugurated to run humanitarian activities in the country with the support of GCS International in South Korea.
I have been volunteering as a Project Manager at the Teqball Federation of Sri Lanka. Within six months, a National Federation was established. It is now recognized by both the Sri Lankan Government and the mother body. I single-handedly worked on all there is to make sure this happens.
Now, I am working on getting support from the mother body, we have already received funding of 25,000 USD worth of tables which we have distributed around Sri Lanka for the development of sports and promote values in society especially peace, friendship, and inclusion.
6. Can you tell us about Road to Championship Project? How did you first think about this project, and how has it impacted your country?
Internship at World Taekwondo (WT) were red-letter days in my life, I gained a lot of experience and that has been life-changing. On the first day of my internship, I was tasked to develop a proposal to launch a Taekwondo development project — ‘Road to Champion’ in Sri Lanka.
When I stepped into the WT, my dream was to use this opportunity to develop and promote the sport in Sri Lanka — it has become reality!
The project was already in place but it was not functioning as it was supposed to. I made a few amendments to the project and communicated with Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation to launch the project.
The project did not get off to the flying start I wanted it to as there were issues in selecting the target group in Sri Lanka, it was redesigned according to the need of Sri Lankans and later implemented. The goal of the project is to empower the destitute children through taekwondo.
An orphanage was selected where 30 children are to be trained for a year. The project stands to run longer based depending on how successful it is.
Dr. Chungwon Choue, the President of WT visited Sri Lanka for the official launching of the project as well as to initiate an NGO — GCS Chapter in Sri Lanka to offer assistance for the development of Taekwondo.
Sport is mainly in cities, but the implementation of this project targeted rural and underprivileged children. Also, Taekwondo is one of the fast-growing sports in Sri Lanka as we speak.
The project has had a great impact on the local community given the locals a chance to learn through sport. I am talking about values such as inclusion and respect for one another.
Dr. Chungwon Choue’s arrival in Sri Lanka and the initiation of the GCS Sri Lanka Chapter have been a fresh of fresh air to the Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation (SLTF).
7. What other goals and plans do you have?
I have been involved in many projects with the NOC of Sri Lanka. Currently, I have been working on a number of projects. Some of them are fairly new to the NOC of Sri Lanka. For instance, designing a new organizational structure on a research basis, drawing a flow-chart for each and every activity of the organization, talent identification program towards the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, and developing a strategic plan for NOC Sri Lanka for 2020–24
Other than that I am taking part in the development of a new sports federation in Sri Lanka, the Teqball Federation of Sri Lanka.
Top of my bucket list is to become an Asia Technical Official (ATO) in Athletics within two years. My dream is to work for IOC. I wish to get there as fast as I can. In five years’ time, I see myself as an International Technical Official for Athletics as well.
8. Were you able to apply some of the knowledge and skills you learned at DTM during your career?
Yes, I have been using the knowledge I gained for my day-to-day projects. I would say the group work has very much enabled me to work with the staff at NOC Sri Lanka.
Since I take a lead role in many projects, the academic material that our lecturers shared as well as our presentations in class are key for my current work.
Hansika recently reunited with the lot, we work on a lot of things together. The power of DTM is right up there. I have given an opportunity to my mates and DTM alumni to be part of the NOC Sri Lanka’s project by interviewing them for some of our publications.
As a man with a Statistics background, DTM gave me a lot of opportunities to develop my writing skills. Of late, I have written a number of project proposals.
9. What do you miss about DTM?
I miss my classmates — every day I chat with most of them. We are miles apart but we are still in touch via social media. I miss the SNU Library too. This was one of my favorite places to spend time and relax. I miss my friends from all over the world I made from the dormitory. I miss the DTM class too. I wonder who has taken over my seat?
10. What is one thing you want to tell DTM faculty and future DTM students?
I always tell my DTM friends to go full throttle with academics and explore South Korea. South Korea gives plenty of opportunities to international people to go out and see the country.
I advise them to sign up for the various programs and enjoy to the maximum. Personally, I took part in several programs in regard to sports and academics not forgetting so many others outside the campus life.
Learn new things from people in and out of the DTM. I am sure we shall make the world an amazing place soon.
Lastly, DTM is the best platform for one to share and learn from others within a short period of time.
11. Do you have anything else you would like to share with us?
DTM is marvellous! DTM was an opportunity for me to learn many things within 17 months with people from 23 nations in one class from more than 30 professors. I am glad that the network is getting bigger every year with the new DTM students. I hope to meet the DTM family pretty soon.
*** THE END ***
SiGoSport 