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| Sunday, 30 May 2004 |
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Mr. Minister, please implement Nandalochana Committee report! Straight Talk by Lal Gunasekera Engaging in "musical chairs" by officials (particularly Presidents and Secretaries) of controlling bodies at the end of their two-year term as stipulated under the Sports Law of the 1970s brought in by the late K. B. Ratnayake when he was the Minister of Sports, is a frequent happening at present. When a President or Secretary complete their two years, they occupy the post of a Vice-President or some other post, and at the end of the two years of the incumbent President or Secretary, these officials overcome the loophole in the Sports Law by coming forward as President or Secretary again. One such official of a popular sport, has been President of that particular body for a period of 12 years since the late 1970s. The new Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, is reported to have said at a function soon after his appointment, that he will bring legislation to amend the Sports Law, and I sincerely hope that he will keep to his word and bring in the reforms without leaving room for any loopholes like what I have mentioned. Some years back, 2000 to be exact, a former Minister of Sports, Lakshman Kiriella, appointed a committee headed by Sidath Sri Nandalochana and comprising Jawed Yusuf and K. L. F. Wijedasa (Secretary) to interview sports personalities and make their recommendations to amend the Sports Law. The Nandalochana Committee did make their recommendations and handed over their report, but what became of it after four years is anyone's guess. Perhaps it is gathering dust in some cupboard at the Ministry of Sports. One of its recommendations (7a, b and c) is that the term of a President and Secretary of a controlling body, unless terminated earlier, shall expire at the end of three years - not two as it is now, and a holder of such office shall be eligible to seek election for a second term. Also, a person who has held such office for two terms, shall not be eligible thereafter, to seek election to such office. This is clearly stated in one of their recommendations and will certainly leave no room for these unscrupulous elements to engage in "musical chairs". Also, this committee, also recommends that a person shall be disqualified from being elected an office-bearer or committee member if he or she has been a coach in that particular controlling body for an immediate period of five years prior to seeking election (8 a) or if he/she is a parent of a competitor in that particular controlling body. It also forbids (8 g) a member of Parliament, Provincial Council, Pradeshiya Sabha, Municipal Council, Urban Council or any other local government legislature from holding office in a controlling body, or if he/she is an employee of the Ministry of Sports (8 j). The Nandalochana Committee also makes a recommendation (13 a) that the Selection, Ranking and Seeding Committee shall be appointed by the controlling body and also (13 b) states that this committee shall each comprise three persons who should have represented the country in that particular sport or participated in a premier tournament for a "continuous" period of three years and shall not include parents of competitors in that particular body. Also, a person who has been a coach in the sport of a particular body for a proceeding period of five years shall not be eligible for inclusion in that particular body (13 c). It also recommends in (20 a) that every foreign remittance of money to a controlling body shall be directed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, who shall record in a register maintained for this purpose, all material particulars, before transmitting such money to the controlling body. The failure and/or omission of a controlling body to inform the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports of a foreign remittance shall be liable to a fine or term of imprisonment (20 b). The committee also states (21) that a controlling body shall submit to the Director General of Sports within two weeks of the expiry of every quarter of a calendar year (a) a report of all monies etc. from local and foreign donors during that quarter, (b) a progress report for that quarter and (21 c) the failure/omission to comply may render the President and/or Secretary and/or Treasurer liable to removal or suspension by the Minister of Sports on representations made to him by the Director General of Sports. The recommendations also state (24 to 31) that a controlling body shall appoint a national coach and only qualified personnel shall be appointed. These appointments shall not exceed two years and particulars about these personnel should be submitted to the Secretary and Director General of Sports in the Ministry of Sports. They also stipulate that coaches, referees, umpires and judges shall be subjected to disciplinary control of the controlling body. Then in (36 a) the Nandalochana Committee states that any person from a controlling body representing the country at a meeting of any international organisation consult the Minister of Sports and act on his direction in any matter that may arise at such meetings and (36 b) states that a manager of a national team participating in a foreign country, shall within 14 days of his return, submit a full and complete report to the Minister of Sports. Minister Kumaratunga, please inquire from your officials at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, as to what has become of this Nandalochana report submitted four years back, and take the necessary steps to bring in legislation to amend the Sports Law, to benefit the sportsmen and sportswomen of this country. |
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