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| Sunday, 3 October 2004 |
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Sports |  |
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Straight talk By Lal Gunesekera Did Sports Ministry sanction handball team's tour? Did a senior official of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports issue a letter to authorise a Sri Lankan handball team to tour Germany when there is no such association registered with the said Ministry? This is the 'million dollar' question now being bandied about in sports circles. This particular team (who according to availabe information did not even know to play the game) had done the "vanishing trick" after reaching Germany with valid visas obtained from the German Embassy in Colombo. Twenty-three persons including the officials were involved in this decamping. The Asian-German Sports Exchange Programme's Dieter Doering was responsible for arranging this tour and seems to have been taken for a ride. I find it rather amusing that the German Embassy too, were tricked in obtaining visas. The Lankans were reported to have fled to France with Italy been the final destination, but reports reaching Colombo, say that the German authorities have issued arrest warrants with the visas too been revoked by the German Embassy, for making false applications in Colombo. How the Lankans managed to hoodwink the German authorities in Colombo is another question. The Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), the young Saman Jayasinghe, said that he had received a telephone call from Germany and had responded by saying that there was no handball association registered with the Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga had not given his approval for such a tour. The German authorities were requested to get in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Embassy in Sri Lanka for details pertaining to this matter. Amarasinghe also said that the organisers had shown him a letter, but the letter-head had been altered and was surprised that the German Embassy in Colombo did not "smell a rat". Jayasinghe is now on a fact finding mission to get to the bottom of the whole affair and refused to divulge further information. He said "I am determined to find the truth and recommend to Minister Kumaratunga to punish whoever the culprit/culprits are. He is also "looking into" the Olympic Games debacle in Athens, Greece which was shrouded in controversy. It is interesting to see whether Saman Jayasinghe will be able to unravel the truth and find out if this senior official of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been involved in this affair. He says that he is trying to get the necessary evidence including the letter that was allegedly issued by this official. If he does find this official guilty, it is a very serious issue, and Minister Kumaratunga will have to take firm action against the official concerned for aiding and a betting this unlawful tour which has brought disgrace to the country, as it has even been was reported in the international media. How the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports can put a halt to these illegal tours is left to be seen. I know it's very difficult, but something has to be done. Now, sports clubs can undertake private tours without the ministry sanction. Under the circumstances, this should be reconsidered. Total control The Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association (SLSASA) conducted a waterpole tournament recently, but the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) insisted that they should be given full control over the event. Referees were not released by SLASU for this tournament, but the SLSASA managed to get a few of them to officiate. SLASU say that they are best equipped to conduct tournaments and wanted full control over the waterpole competition as the SLSASA do not possess qualified personnel to officiate at such events. Who is right? Why should not the SLSASA run their own tournaments with the sanction of the controlling body who should have released the referees for this event. Does the SLASU need to control their affiliates in a dictatorial manner? Come, come SLASA, grow up. Badminton revolution The Junior Badminton Nationals were held recently with over 5000 shuttlers (both boys and girls) in various age groups competing for honours. When one talks about badminton, particularly in the schools, one cannot help but remember the contribution made by the late Ariyadasa Silva of Dharmasoka fame. He spared no pains of taking this sport to rural areas. It was way back in 1964 that Ariyadasa began his crusade from Ambalangoda where he was a teacher and introduced the sport to Dharmasoka. Then it was Richmond's turn. I can remember only about 100 competitors at the Junior Nationals at one time, but now it has exceeded 5000. The numbers started increasing from 1971 and it won't be long before students even in the north and east compete. Even Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse acknowledged Ariyadsa Silva's contribution to the sport at the recent Junior Nationals. Undisputed champions Well done Kandy Sports Club! Once again, Kandy proved that they are the undisputed champions of the local rugby scene when they won the Caltex Cliffered Cup for the sixth consecutive year (1999 to 2004) last week convincingly. They had won it earlier too for six successive years (1992 to 1997)-12 occasions out of 13 since 1992. Kandy Sports Club also won the Caltex League title this season for the fourth consecutive year (2001 to 2004), which they had won earlier too on four occasions(1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999). Kandy Sports Club were led this year by winger and Sri Lanka captain Radhika Hettiaratchi and were coached by Samoan, Tavita (Laga, Tulagease, who also played for them as a No. 8 forward. Founded in 1874, the resurgence at Kandy SC started in 1992 with the financial backing of former Royal and CR & FC scrum-half Malik Samarawickreme, who was also the President of the SLRFU at one time. One must also not forget the contributions made by people in the calibre of the late Dr. C. D. L. Fernando, E. W. Balasuriya, Chandra Wijenaike and Dr. Kapuwatte for the revival. |
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