Mar 07, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to recruit 250 sports instructors in addition to the present cadre of physical education teachers in schools to train students in sports.

The government has decided to recruit the sports instructors out of the minutes of the teaching service lowering the minimum qualifications necessary to a low pass in G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) examination plus representation of Sri Lanka at international level in sports.

The government plans to recruit 10 sports teachers per district.

The government last month received the approval from the cabinet of ministers to make sports compulsory for school students.

Under the measure at least one sport will be compulsory for all students from 2013 and sports will be a core subject for GCE Ordinary Level (O/L).

According to the government only five percent of the students following primary education in the country are engaged in sports activities due to the heavy focus on studies.

The government will implement physical education and sports programmes within the school system and universities, so that students with special skills and abilities in sports activities could be identified and provided with assistance to achieve national and international levels in the field of sports.