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SportUnleash report reveals the sports talent of children
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced children to remain indoors and follow online lessons, which has resulted in many of them gaining weight at the risk of facing health issues due to lack of physical activity.
Even during pre-Covid-19 times, physical activity among school children throughout Sri Lanka was increasingly a concern with only a mere five percent or less being involved in some kind of sports throughout their school career.
This is primarily due to the fact that many children end up pursuing a sport which they do not have talent for to only find themselves giving it up a few years later. Other than the obvious health benefits to a child who pursues a sport, the character development of children who do sport throughout their time in school is priceless, and only a few parents seem to understand the great benefit and encourage their children to engage in an organized sport.
Research shows that being engaged in a sport helps a child to succeed in their higher education and in their career later as adults. According to a 2018 study, they are more likely, than non-athletes, to attend college and graduate. A 2014 survey of 75 Executive Vice Presidents from Fortune 500 companies found that 95pct of them were involved in a high school sport.
A survey of 400 female corporate executives found that 94 per cent of them played a sport and 61 percent of them said that playing a sport had a positive impact on their success.
This is not surprising because research from various sources confirm that playing sports, throughout a child’s school life right up to age 20, builds strong leadership skills, increases self-confidence, brings self-respect, values determination, teaches team-work, learns how to multi-task under pressure, enhances goal-setting skills and how to achieve them, teaches them how to handle defeat graciously and how to manage the ecstasy of victory, humbly.
Fortunately, a well-tested and proven report from SportUnleash reveals a child’s sports talent early, so that they enjoy doing sports, and will not give up.
Introduced in 2014, SportUnleash is able to predict the child’s sports talent, enabling them to realize their true potential which will help them compete at the highest level in school. This can only be performed when the child is between the ages of 9-11 years old. Today many testimonials of children who took the SportUnleash Report well reflects its accuracy.
“This is a great opportunity for parents to not just think along the lines of academic excellence through only studies, but also to combine it with the impact sports has on the character development of the child, to set them up for success when they enter the professional, corporate and business world”, says Talavou Alailima, the brainchild behind SportUnleash and creator of Proxone.
What is important to realize is that it is not just participating in sports for fun, but taking part in sports when winning and losing matters is where the child benefits the most. This takes place between the ages of 15 and 20,’
All the parent has to do is to download the Proxone app and book a SportUnleash test and within 14 days know their child’s sports gifting.
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Covid-19 vaccination programme: MPs not in priority group; President, armed forces chiefs in ‘third category’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
State Minister for Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday (25) said that members of Parliament were not among those categorised as priority groups expected to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Fernandopulle said so in response to The Island query whether parliamentarians would receive the vaccine scheduled to be delivered by India this week. Asked to explain, Dr. Fernandopulle said that health workers, armed forces and law enforcement personnel engaged in Covid-19 prevention operations would be given priority.
“Lawmakers haven’t been listed under priority groups. However, some members may get the vaccine if they are accommodated in the over 60 years category and those suffering from diabetes, heart disease, cancer et al,” the State minister said.
In addition to State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, several lawmakers, representing both the government and the Opposition had been afflicted over the past several weeks. SLPP lawmaker Wasantha Yapa Bandara (Kandy district) is the latest victim. Health minister Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi was among over half a dozen lawmakers tested positive.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva told Derana yesterday morning Sri Lanka would receive approximately 500,000 to 600,000 doses from India. Responding to a spate of questions from Derana anchor Sanka Amarjith, Gen. Silva explained the measures taken by the government to ensure a smooth vaccination programme. The Army Chief who also functions as the Chief of Defence Staff revealed India had paid for the consignment obtained from the UK.
Later in the day, The Island sought an explanation from the Army Chief regarding the President, Service Commanders, Secretary Defence given the vaccination along with frontline health workers et al, the celebrated battlefield commander said: “Will be in third priority group.”
Asked whether the student population would be accommodated at an early stage of the vaccination programme, Dr. Fernandopulle said that those under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating mothers wouldn’t be included at all as such groups hadn’t been subjected to trials. Education Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera wasn’t available for comment.
Dr. Fernandopulle emphasized the pivotal importance of following health guidelines strictly in spite of the launch of the vaccination programme. “We shouldn’t lower our guard under any circumstances,” Dr. Fernandopulle said, urging the population to be mindful of those unable to receive the vaccination due to no fault of theirs. As those under 18 years of age had been left out of the vaccination programme, a substantial section of the population would be denied the protection, the State Minister said.
Sri Lanka is also expected to procure vaccines from China and Russia in addition to the doses from India. Health Secretary Maj. Gen. Sanjeewa Munasinghe wasn’t available for comment.
Sri Lanka launches the vaccination programme with the total number of positive cases nearing 60,000 with nearly 50,000 recoveries. The government recently re-opened the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) following a pilot programme that brought over 1,200 Ukrainians in dozen flights through the Mattala International Airport.
Dr. Fernandopulle said that the government was ready to launch the vaccination programme as soon as the first consignment arrived from India.
By Norman Palihawadane
Two tennis balls filled with drugs had been thrown into the Covid-19 treatment centre at Kandakadu, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said.
The contraband was found on Saturday by the Army officers attached to the facility.
DIG Rohana said the two tennis balls containing cannabis, heroin and tobacco, had been handed over to the Welikanda Police.
A special investigation has been launched into the incident, the Police Spokesperson said. Such incidents had been previously reported from Welikada, Negombo and other prisons, but it was the first time contraband containing narcotics had been thrown into a Covid-19 treatment centre, he added.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has introduced a system where payment for imports could be made via the Internet. This allows port users to make payments from their homes or offices to clear goods from the Port of Colombo.
The SLPA has said in a media statement that the new special facility will enable port users to make their port payments easily without hassle.
At present, all terminals of the Port of Colombo are run according to a strategic crisis management plan.
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