Sports Development which was initiated as a small unit during the mid sixties (60) was established as a sports division under the Ministry of People lised Services in 1966. The Department of Sports was instigated 1968 and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Sports was established in 1970. The Department of Sports Development was taken under the preview of the said Ministry. The Department functioned under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1989 and promoted up to Grade A Department. The Department of Sports Development functioned under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in 2002 and in 2003 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and from 2004 – 2007 under the Ministry of Sports and General Entertainment Activities and from 2010 to date it has been functioning duties under the Ministry of Sports
Being a dignified nation in Asia through the development of sports
Implementation and execution of operational strategies related to the development of sports infrastructure and human resources and creating a sports culture with healthy, disciplined individuals excelling in sports for the development of Sri Lanka to form a dignified nation in Asia.