Sports Ministry to put up shooting ranges in each district for school shooters

NSSF president Shirantha Peries (right) and secretary Pradeep Edirisinghe (2nd left) with the Minister of Sports, Namal Rajapaksa.  

by Reemus Fernando

Plans are underway to put up three shooting ranges as the first step to provide shooting ranges in each district for school shooters, according to the National Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF).

The Ministry of Sports has responded to a request made by the NSSF to build new ranges for school shooters.

“The Sports Ministry will provide funds to build the shooting ranges. At the initial stage shooting ranges will be built in Colombo, Hambanthota (Hungama) and Gampaha,” NSSF President Shirantha Peries told The Island yesterday.

Putting up shooting ranges is part of the development plan to build a strong team to represent Sri Lanka at future international events.

“We need to form a strong team for future international events. We want to win medals in 2024. This is the base for that. After putting up the shooting range we will conduct coaching courses for School Masters and Teachers of the area who in turn will train shooters of their respective schools,” Peries said.

“At present school shooters are training at makeshift centres and have to be provided with facilities like shooting ranges if we want to win at international level,” said Peries.

The National Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF) presented their development plan to the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa recently.

The Sports Minister on principal has approved the construction of one air gun range per district in order to facilitate school shooters. The final objective would be to have ranges in all 25 districts of the country that would be accessible not only to the students but also to the sport shooting community in general and the general public for leisure shooting.

According to NSSF the first three ranges will be completed by December 31.

The construction of these facilities will be done under the supervision of the president and secretary of the NSSF.

The project has received the blessings of the Ministry of Education as well. According to the Ministry of Education there are over 170 schools involved in sports shooting. Sri Lanka Schools Rifle Shooting Association is the affiliate schools association of the NSSF.