Covering all 9 Provinces across the Country, the program saw the participation of over 66 New Candidates in the National Umpire Accreditation Course - aimed at Enrolling Fresh Umpires - and 70 Experienced Umpires in the Refresher Course, designed to Update and Enhance the knowledge of currently serving Technical Officials (TOs).
Both courses were conducted by locally accredited officials certified by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).
The training included both theoretical and practical components, concluding with written and on-court assessments.
In conjunction with the upcoming National Badminton Championships the courses were conducted in all three languages, (English, Sinhala & Tamil) symbolizing SLB’s commitment to inclusivity and nationwide development of technical officials.
Participants represented a wide range of backgrounds, including government and private sector employees, as well as bankers, showcasing the growing interest and professionalism within the badminton community.
A majority of the successful participants are expected to officiate as umpires and line judges during the upcoming 73rd National Championships in December, further strengthening the national technical officiating pool.
During the event, Deshabandu Mr. Roshan Gunawardana, President of Sri Lanka Badminton, engaged in a constructive discussion with the Senior Technical Officials, leading to several collective decisions aimed at elevating the standards of officiating in Sri Lanka.
Among these, it was agreed to invite international Technical Officials for future National and International tournaments hosted in Sri Lanka and to provide opportunities for the second tier of Sri Lankan Technical Officials to gain exposure by participating in overseas tournaments.
Addressing the participants, the President of Sri Lanka Badminton highlighted the importance of continuous education and professional development among technical officials.
He proudly stated that Sri Lanka Badminton is Ranked No. 1 in the South Asian Region for having the best Technical Officials.
Furthermore, on the Global Stage, Sri Lanka currently holds the No. 2 Ranking, which is a great achievement and a matter of national pride.
He extended his gratitude to the Technical Committee for successfully organizing the programs and commended the dedication of umpires in uplifting the sport’s standards.
The inauguration also featured a felicitation ceremony honoring Deshabandu Mr. Roshan Gunawardana on his recent appointment as SLB President — marking his first official engagement with the Technical Officials.
Mr. Roshan Fernando was also felicitated for his longstanding service and leadership as the Chairman of the Technical Committee.
Sri Lanka Badminton continues to make impressive strides internationally, with several of its Technical Officials already recognized at world-level events.
The successful completion of these courses further strengthens SLB’s efforts to maintain excellence and integrity in officiating within the sport.
President,
Sri Lanka Badminton.
