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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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Staggering cost to re-build Galle Stadium - may not host international games hereafter Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Galle International Cricket Stadium which was devastated by the Boxing-Day tsunami that struck the island, may not (I repeat, may not) stage any international fixtures in future, although it will be reconstructed. Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President, Thilanga Sumathipala, who heads the "Disaster Assistance Fund" Committee of SLC, said that emotions should not get the better of any person or decision at this time, and nothing could prevent mother nature and a tsunami striking the country, and even Galle, again. He said: "We are going through the immediate impact that the tsunami caused at Galle Stadium and studying various aspects. We have to take a hard decision whether to re-build the Galle Stadium upto international level again or not. We have to look at other options. I am emotionally touched myself, as it was I who was responsible for building it upto international levels. The destruction caused by the tsunami is just unbelievable. Sumathipala went on to say that Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 million is needed to get back Galle Stadium into international level again, but asks the question - "Is it worthwhile?" He gives the answer himself: "What will happen if another tsunami hits Galle when a match is in progress and with about 15,000 to 20,000 spectators, besides the players? We have to think of evacuation plans and various "other things". We may even have to build a very tall concrete will right round the stadium. He says that SLC is not going to rule out the Galle International Cricket Stadium at the moment from hosting international games. Certainly SLC is going to reconstruct the stadium. There is about four to five inches of salt and mud layers that have to be removed. It will take about four to five months to regrass the 10 turf strips at the centre and also the others outside as well, including those strips at the indoor nets. Anyway, Sumathipala, did not wish to discuss anything further "at the moment". The curator, Jayananda Warnaweera, who is a former Sri Lanka Test cricketer, says that he has no words to describe the disaster and havoc caused to the Galle International Cricket Stadium. He said that debris was strewn all over the place where the 33 feet tidal waves struck. He found a bus, three vans, two cars and even four big boats (among the others) on the ground. Warnaweera says that a lot of money has to be spent for its reconstruction and a lot of planning has to go in. The drainage system has to be replaced completely, about six inches of soil has to be removed from the ground and maintenance machinery too has to be replaced. He says: "This was my first love and the near 30-odd ground staff used to work at least 15 hours a day. What are we going to do now? We will reconstruct the stadium in the near future. It was a beautiful stadium, but the Boxing-Day tsunami played havoc. Netballers abused The Sri Lanka netball team that went to meet the President of the Netball Federation (SLNF), Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapakse at Temple Trees last week, were allegedly abused by a former President of this body. The players were to request Mrs. Rajapakse (wife of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to reconsider the decision of postponing the Asian Championships which was earlier scheduled to have been held next month (February) in Singapore in September. They were also to inform Mrs. Rajapakse about the inadequate facilities provided to them. I also understand that the presence of the present national coach, Lourdes Jayasekera, was opposed by certain quarters in the NFSL. She has not been paid her allowances since taking over as the national coach. The NFSL also owes the Hotel situated at the Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Complex a sum of Rs. 2,40,000/-. There is also the presence of one Ms. Shakila from the Prime Minister's office who deputises for the NFSL President when Mrs. Rajapakse is not available to attend meetings. Ms. Shakila (I wonder whether she knows anything about netball) handles "everything" at these meetings in the absence of Mrs. Rajapakse. Officials of the 'NFSL are disturbed for this situation. Football House and accounts Football Asia, a publication of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in a recent issue has stated that the FIFA (the world governing body for the sport) had donated a sum of US Dollars 400,000/- towards the construction of Football House, the grand headquarters of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). It goes on to state that Manilal Fernando, a former President of the FFSL, now a Vice-President of the AFC and also an official of FIFA, had said that the accounts regarding the Football House has been accepted and approved by FIFA and even its Goal Project Officer had mentioned this at Kalutara. He had praised Fernando to the hilt at the opening of the stadium built by Fernando in memory of his father. The FFSL went into occupation of Football House in 2001. The annual reports of the FFSL for 2001, 2002 and 2003 signed by its President, DIG Gamini Randeni and Treasurer, Rodrigo, states that a sum of Rs. 37,901,043.72 has been spent on Football House, but the funny part is that the auditors in their report state that the final amount due to the architects have yet to be settled and that they (the auditors) are unable to give the final audited statement of accounts. Under these circumstances, I wonder who is correct? I also understand that either DIG Gamini Randeni (the present President of FFSL) or Chrysantha Perera (CEO of FFSL) will fill the vacancy of Chairman of the FIFA Goal Project in Sri Lanka which fell vacant with the death of J.S.N. Anandaraja. He was paid in US Dollars and I hope that the Inland Revenue Department sees to it that the present high-ranking officer pays income tax. Every person who is employed at this Project Office is paid by FIFA. |
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