National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) proudly commemorated Olympic Day 2026 on Tuesday the 23rd June, at Independence Square, Colombo bringing together the sporting community in a vibrant celebration of sport, unity and the Olympic values.

TEXT & PICTURES BY – HERBERT PERERA

This is observed annually across the globe, Olympic Day marks the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 23rd Jume 1894, which paved the way for the revival of the modern Olympic Games. Since its inception in 1948, Olympic Day has evolved into a worldwide celebration promoting participation in sport, physical activity, and the enduring values of excellence, friendship and respect.

This year’s global campaign, themed “Lets Move 2026” carries the empowering message, “You Can Do This”, encouraging individuals, particularly young people, to take their first step towards an active lifestyle. The campaign emphasizes that feelings of uncertainty or self-doubt are natural, but should never prevent anyone from embracing sport and movement.

School children representing seven schools also participated enthusiastically in the Olympic Day Celebrations, reflecting the event’s strong emphasis on youth engagement and the promotion of active lifestyle among future generations. The participating schools were Weluwana Madyama Maha Vidyalaya, and Ashoka Maha Vidyalaya .
NOC Sri Lanka organized this year’s celebrations at Independence Square with a symbolic Olympic Day walk follows by an official ceremony. Approximately 500 participants, including athletes, Sport officials, dignitaries, stakeholders and members of sporting fraternity, took part in the celebrations.

Adding significance to the occasion, several Sri Lankan Olympians participated in the Olympic day walk and proudly carried the Olympic Torch. They included the only living Sri Lankan Olympic Medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe OLY, Niluka Karunaratne OLY, Chamara Dharmawardana OLYKyle Abeysinghe OLY and Viren Nettasinghe OLY.

The event was graced by Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports and Youth affairs, as the Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour were Colombo Municipal’s Council’s Deputy Mayor Hemantha Weerakoon, and His Excellency Kamoshida Naoaki, Acting Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Mr. Jaswer Umar, President Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Mr. Bimal Wijayasinghe, President, Sri Lanka Athletics.

The celebration were led by the newly appointed President of NOC Sri Lanka Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, and Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka Mr. Rifdy Fahmy, with the members of the NOC Sri Lanka Executive Board. Also in attendance were members of NOC Sri Lanka Sub-Committees, representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Education, The Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, Institute of Sports Medicine and other key stakeholders from Sri Lanka’s sporting community, Mr. Asanka de Mel, Founder and CEO LOVI Ceylon, the official opening ceremony clothing sponsor the Team Sri Lanka at the LA 2028 Olympic Games, the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and the major international multi sport events was also in attendance.

Mr. Asanga Seneviratne Newly appointed President of National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Flagged off to start the walk. Sri Lanka's only living Olympic Siver Winner Susanthika Jayasinghe carries the Olympic Torch in front of the walk.

President ofr NOC Asanga Seneviratne walk in the procession

Susanthika Jayasinghe the only medalist who won an Olympic Award after walking with the Olympic torch in the procession placing the torch on the stage (third from left) while the newly appointed President of NOC Sri Lanka Asanga Seneviratne on ( extreme left) His Excellency Kamoshi Naoaki the Acting Ambassador for japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka ( second from left) Mr. Rifdy Fahmy, Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka, Mr. Niluka Karunaratne, OLY look on.

Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, Newly Appointed President of NOC Sri Lanka seen addressing the gathering

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs  Sunil Kumara Gamage, addressing the gathering

Acting Japanese Ambassador Kamoshida Naoaki addressing the gathering

Mr, Jaswer Umar, FFSL President, Mr. Bimal Wijayasinghe, President Athletic Association and Mr. Nishantha member FFSL

The Chief Guest Sunil Kumara Gamage Miniser of Sports and Youth Affairs ( second from left) His Excellency Kamoshi  Naoaki, Acting Ambassador of Japanese Embasy in Sri Lanka ( extreme left) Mr. Asanga Seneviratne, Newly Appointed President of NOC Sri Lanka, and Mr. Hemantha Weerakoon, Deputy Mayor of Colombo Municipal Council seated in the front row.

Mr. Rifdy Fahmy, Secretary General of NOC presenting the vote of thanks.