[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-shell":3,"taxonomy":4,"article-sri-lanka-expects-usdollar25-million-in-fifa-assistance-for-football-development":5,"breaking":30,"cover-media-sri-lanka-expects-usdollar25-million-in-fifa-assistance-for-football-development":34,"comments-sri-lanka-expects-usdollar25-million-in-fifa-assistance-for-football-development":46,"related-sri-lanka-expects-usdollar25-million-in-fifa-assistance-for-football-development":51},[4,4],true,{"data":6},{"id":7,"lang":8,"title":9,"subtitle":10,"slug":11,"excerpt":12,"html":13,"readingTimeSec":14,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":18,"tagIds":19,"authorIds":20,"coverMediaId":21,"galleryMediaIds":22,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":23,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":26,"relatedArticleIds":29},"6ae191043b462735d02b9ae0","en","Sri Lanka expects US$25 million in FIFA assistance for football development",null,"sri-lanka-expects-usdollar25-million-in-fifa-assistance-for-football-development","Sri Lanka expects to secure US$25 million in financial assistance from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) over the next four years to develop football in the country, the Ministry of S...","\u003Cp>Sri Lanka expects to secure US$25 million in financial assistance from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) over the next four years to develop football in the country, the Ministry of Sports has stated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter was discussed at a meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 26 between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage. The discussions focused on developing football in Sri Lanka at national and international levels, improving sports infrastructure, and enhancing the skills and performance of players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gamage expressed the Sri Lankan Government’s appreciation for FIFA’s support in developing the national football team and youth teams. He highlighted progress in the country’s football sector over the past two years and said the Government is committed to working closely with FIFA and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) to further advance the sport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Special attention was also given to the construction of a modern football stadium that meets international standards and to the improvement of sports infrastructure across the country. The four-year development programme is expected to focus on strengthening the national and youth football teams, promoting women’s football, and developing the skills and professional capabilities of coaches and referees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Sports has stated that construction of football stadiums in every district of Sri Lanka is planned to commence next year. The initiative aims to provide children and young people with greater access to football and create more opportunities for talented players to develop their abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plans are in place to develop approximately 40 football grounds through member leagues affiliated with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka by the end of 2031. The programme is expected to expand football participation across the country, improve players’ performance, and strengthen the professional skills of coaches and referees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strengthening cooperation among the Sri Lankan Government, FIFA and the Football Federation of Sri Lanka is a key part of the initiative, which aims to make football a more popular sport in the country and elevate Sri Lanka’s presence on the international football stage.\u003C\u002Fp>",94,"standard","published","6a88f1651984b727d3b0ad1b",[17],[],[],"6ae191043b462735d02b9adc",[],"2026-10-28T05:36:23.000Z",false,"public",{"views":27,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":27},8,0,[],{"data":31},{"articles":32,"ticker":33},[],[],{"data":35},{"id":21,"url":36,"width":37,"height":38,"variants":39,"alt":10,"caption":10,"credit":10},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.newsradio.lk\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F10\u002F61979cc8-40e6-4f63-85c0-1b4a6e4c5c5c\u002Foriginal.jpg",800,595,[40],{"key":41,"width":42,"height":43,"format":44,"url":45},"thumb",320,238,"webp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.newsradio.lk\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F10\u002F61979cc8-40e6-4f63-85c0-1b4a6e4c5c5c\u002Fthumb.webp",{"data":47,"meta":48},[],{"total":28,"page":49,"limit":50,"hasMore":24},1,30,{"data":52},[53,70,87,102,119,135],{"id":54,"lang":8,"title":55,"subtitle":10,"slug":56,"excerpt":57,"html":58,"readingTimeSec":59,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":60,"tagIds":61,"authorIds":62,"coverMediaId":63,"galleryMediaIds":64,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":65,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":66,"relatedArticleIds":69},"6abb71783b462735d0dccebf","Sri Lanka's Tharanga wins men's javelin gold at 2026 Asian Games","sri-lankas-tharanga-wins-mens-javelin-gold-at-2026-asian-games","Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a winning throw of 88.55 metres. This is Sri Lanka’s first gold medal at ...","\u003Cp>Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a throw of 88.55 metres. The result is Sri Lanka's first gold medal at the Games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final was held in challenging rainy conditions that made the event difficult for all competitors. Tharanga opened with 73.53 metres and was in third place after the first three rounds. He moved into the lead on his fourth attempt with 88.33 metres. His fifth attempt was unsuccessful. On his sixth and final attempt he produced his best throw of the competition, 88.55 metres, to win gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>India's Yashvir Singh took silver with 85.72 metres. His compatriot Rohit Yadav won bronze with 84.35 metres. Sri Lanka's Sumedha Ranasinghe finished sixth with a best throw of 78.08 metres.\u003C\u002Fp>",37,[17],[],[],"6abb71783b462735d0dccebb",[],"2026-09-29T07:30:47.000Z",{"views":67,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":68},174,11,[],{"id":71,"lang":8,"title":72,"subtitle":10,"slug":73,"excerpt":74,"html":75,"readingTimeSec":76,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":77,"tagIds":78,"authorIds":79,"coverMediaId":80,"galleryMediaIds":81,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":82,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":83,"relatedArticleIds":86},"6ab432873b462735d0d1f5a9","Rumesha Tharanga returns to Sri Lanka after World Ultimate Championship gold","rumesha-tharanga-returns-to-sri-lanka-after-world-ultimate-championship-gold","Sri Lanka’s national javelin champion Rumesha Tharanga returned to the country early today (15), after achieving a historic victory at the World Ultimate Championship. Tharanga secured the gold medal with a rem...","\u003Cp>Early today (15), Sri Lanka's national javelin champion Rumesha Tharanga returned to the country after a historic gold-medal win at the World Ultimate Championship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tharanga took the title with a throw of 91.09 metres on his final attempt, defeating leading athletes including the reigning Olympic, World and European champions. He received a cash prize of USD 150,000 for the victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had earlier become the first Sri Lankan athlete to win the Diamond League title after finishing first at the Lausanne, Zurich and Brussels Diamond League meets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expressing his happiness over his achievements, Tharanga said he hopes to win three more medals for Sri Lanka at the upcoming Asian Games, World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games.\u003C\u002Fp>",32,[17],[],[],"6ab432873b462735d0d1f5a5",[],"2026-09-15T05:20:38.000Z",{"views":84,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":85},133,9,[],{"id":88,"lang":8,"title":89,"subtitle":10,"slug":90,"excerpt":91,"html":92,"readingTimeSec":50,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":93,"tagIds":94,"authorIds":95,"coverMediaId":96,"galleryMediaIds":97,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":98,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":99,"relatedArticleIds":101},"6ab432873b462735d0d1f5b3","Rumesha Tharanga wins men’s javelin throw at World Athletics Ultimate Championship","rumesha-tharanga-wins-mens-javelin-throw-at-world-athletics-ultimate-championship","Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesha Tharanga secured first place in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship held in Budapest, Hungary, last night (13), featuring some of the world’s ...","\u003Cp>Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesha Tharanga won the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, last night (13). The event featured some of the world’s leading athletes. Tharanga’s winning throw measured 91.09 metres.\u003C\u002Fp>",[17],[],[],"6ab432873b462735d0d1f5af",[],"2026-09-14T06:58:52.000Z",{"views":100,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":68},136,[],{"id":103,"lang":8,"title":104,"subtitle":10,"slug":105,"excerpt":106,"html":107,"readingTimeSec":108,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":109,"tagIds":110,"authorIds":111,"coverMediaId":112,"galleryMediaIds":113,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":114,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":115,"relatedArticleIds":118},"6ab446b23b462735d0d211fb","Inaugural Colombo Marathon 2026 to be held on September 13","inaugural-colombo-marathon-2026-to-be-held-on-september-13","The inaugural Colombo Marathon 2026, jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Department of Sports Development, will be held in Colombo on September 13 from 5.30 a.m., Minister of Y...","\u003Cp>The inaugural Colombo Marathon 2026 will be held in Colombo on September 13 from 5.30 a.m., Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Department of Sports Development are jointly organizing the event. Gamage was addressing a special media briefing held today (11) at the Government Information Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minister said the marathon is being organized with the aim of promoting Colombo as a globally recognized city, attracting tourists and further promoting sports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event will be conducted in four categories: a 42-kilometre full marathon, a 21-kilometre half marathon, a 10-kilometre run and a 5-kilometre Fun Run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than 5,000 participants have registered, including 140 foreign runners from 25 countries, Gamage said. He added that prizes worth approximately Rs. 12.8 million will be awarded to winners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The event is being supported by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and City of Dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minister further said all participants are required to submit medical fitness reports, while there is no age restriction for participation. Schoolchildren will also be permitted to take part in the 5-kilometre Fun Run.\u003C\u002Fp>",50,[17],[],[],"6ab446b23b462735d0d211f7",[],"2026-09-11T10:14:02.000Z",{"views":116,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":117},132,7,[],{"id":120,"lang":8,"title":121,"subtitle":10,"slug":122,"excerpt":123,"html":124,"readingTimeSec":50,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":125,"tagIds":126,"authorIds":127,"coverMediaId":128,"galleryMediaIds":129,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":130,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":131,"relatedArticleIds":134},"6a985ec055750bd6c4a6378b","Commonwealth Games gold medalist Rumesh Tharanga returns to Sri Lanka","commonwealth-games-gold-medalist-rumesh-tharanga-returns-to-sri-lanka","Sri Lanka's Commonwealth Games men's javelin throw gold medalist, Rumesh Tharanga, returned to the island today (04). Competing at the Scotstoun Stadium in Scotland, Tharanga secured the gold medal with a remar...","\u003Cp>Rumesh Tharanga, Sri Lanka's Commonwealth Games men's javelin throw gold medalist, returned to Sri Lanka today (04).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tharanga won gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games at Scotstoun Stadium in Scotland with a throw of 89.75 metres. The victory was Sri Lanka's first Commonwealth Games athletics gold medal in 20 years.\u003C\u002Fp>",[17],[],[],"6a985ec055750bd6c4a63787",[],"2026-08-04T17:16:37.000Z",{"views":132,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":133},214,6,[],{"id":136,"lang":8,"title":137,"subtitle":10,"slug":138,"excerpt":139,"html":140,"readingTimeSec":50,"seo":10,"type":15,"status":16,"primaryCategoryId":17,"categoryIds":141,"tagIds":142,"authorIds":143,"coverMediaId":144,"galleryMediaIds":145,"videoUrl":10,"publishedAt":146,"isBreaking":24,"isFeatured":24,"isPinned":24,"allowComments":4,"visibility":25,"location":10,"stats":147,"relatedArticleIds":149},"6a985ec055750bd6c4a63795","Rumesh Tharanga wins Diamond League javelin gold in Doha","rumesh-tharanga-wins-diamond-league-javelin-gold-in-doha","Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga secured the gold medal in the men's javelin event at the seventh leg of the Diamond League held in Doha, delivering an impressive throw of 88.68 metres. This marks the se...","\u003Cp>Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga won gold in the men’s javelin at the seventh leg of the Diamond League in Doha with a throw of 88.68 metres.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the second time Tharanga had won a Diamond League event, further cementing his place in Sri Lanka’s athletics history with another remarkable international achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra finished in fourth place in the competition, according to reports.\u003C\u002Fp>",[17],[],[],"6a985ec055750bd6c4a63791",[],"2026-06-20T05:23:34.000Z",{"views":148,"uniqueViews":28,"shares":28,"comments":28,"likes":28,"trendScore":85},209,[]]