The Sports Ministry and the Department of Sports Development were shifted to the new building adjoining the Race Course Shopping Complex, the Ministry yesterday said.

The new building next to the Race Course was ceremoniously declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last evening. The Ministry said the buildings which housed the Sports Development Department would be converted to a sports museum after the shift.

The new four-storey building is to house the Sports Ministry on the second and third floor, the Sports Development Department on the first floor and a shopping complex on the ground floor.

“The Sports Museum will showcase medals won by Sri Lankan players, details of former players, World cup tournaments held and other achievements. The proposed museum would be a source of sports education for children,” Media Secretary to the Minister Harsha B. Abeykoon said.

The museum would also function as a research centre for sports as well as a knowledge hub, he said.

“We are planning to complete the museum in three stages. Funds for the first stage have been allocated. We are making arrangements to complete the first stage this year and the museum would be the best sports museum in Asia when it is completed,” Abeykoon said.

Abeykoon said they would not be required to spend a large sum as they already had the building for the museum. The building of the Department of Sports Development is situated adjacent to the Torrington sports ground.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka