COLOMBO, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has launched a 450 million rupee (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) program to promote sports among schoolchildren across the country, the Department of Government Information (DGI) said on Saturday, quoting a minister.

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Sunil Kumara Gamage said the cabinet of ministers had already approved several programs to provide job opportunities and other support for talented athletes.

The 1.5 million dollar program will support the development of school playgrounds and provide sports equipment to schools, he said.

Gamage said the government wanted to encourage students to take sports seriously as they would create opportunities for talented young athletes. ■