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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera What's happening to Pallakelle and Galle stadiums? What is the status regarding the Pallakelle Cricket Stadium that started a few years back when Lakshman Kiriella was the Minister of Sports in the then PA government before he "crossed over" to the UNP? A leading Sri Lanka cricketer was involved with some Middle East personalities in this project, but I understand that it is "on hold" due to financial problems after nearly 70 per cent of the work had been completed. This company known as Zahar Sports (I may be corrected) got into some "grey areas" and were keen that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) takes over the project. I gather that negotiations too got under way between Zahar Sports and SLC, but a final decision was not reached. The entire project was put on hold and negotiations are to get under way again after the annual general meeting of SLC later this month, when a final decision is to be taken. It's likely that SLC will take over the project and construct the stadium upto international standards with even floodlights. Even former SLC President, Thilanga Sumathipala, was very keen on this project. The other venue for international matches at Asgiriya in Kandy is owned by Trinity College and has not held a Test match since late 2003. Pakistan 'A' are to play Sri Lanka 'A' at Asgiriya next month. SLC pumped in a lot of money to get Asgiriya upto international standards when the late Gamini Dissanayake (himself an old boy of Trinity) headed SLC and was the Minister of Mahaweli during the J. R. Jayewardene government. The other international venues in Sri Lanka are the Singhalese Sports Club grounds, Premadasa Stadium, Saravanamuttu Stadium, Rangiri Dambulu Stadium and the Galle Stadium. The latter was devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami, and SLC are yet undecided whether to reconstruct it at a staggering cost or shift to another place in the Galle District. Sour grapes It looks like a case of sour grapes. SLC has come out with feeble excuses for Sri Lanka cricketers absence at the charity dinner held in aid of Sahanaya and the Muralitharan-Vaas-Gunasekera Foundation at the Waters Edge Golf and Country Club where Australia's spin wizard Shane Warne too was present. At a recent media briefing at SLC headquarters, Thilanga Sumathipala, who now heads Cricket-Aid, had questioned the motive behind the organising of this charity dinner and even went to the extent of questioning about the organisers. It was well-known who organised it and for what purpose. How can SLC and Thilanga Sumathipala deny this fact. He has also gone on record to say that neither the President or Chief Executive Officer of SLC nor the cricketers themselves were invited for this function, but if any person had the money to pay for the tickets, they could have gone. Surely the hierarchy of SLC and the cricketers themselves can well afford the Rs. 10,000 per head. It was for charity. The Deputy President of SLC, Aravinda de Silva, was present, and so was Muralitharan himself, although he has supposed to have claimed that he was in Australia when the date of this charity dinner was finalised. I certainly cannot believe it. Chaminda Vaas who is a member of the Foundation was not present. That too was a big surprise. Muralitharan later denied Sumathipala's claims that he (Muralitharan) was unaware of the details of this dinner and says that he was "highly involved" in it. Kushil Gunasekera, Muralitharan's manager, says that the Foundation was established two years back and incorporated under the Trust Ordinance Act and are registered too. Kept afloat The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) is been kept afloat by one individual who is the financier in the absence of any financial assistance from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports since 2000. This person has spent over Rs. 1 million on the sport and SLASU owes him Rs. 700,000. I also understand that this person spent Rs. 1.6 million when a top coach from the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) visited Sri Lanka last year and conducted practical examinations for 22 local coaches in Kandy. What will happen to the sport if this individual stops funding the SLASU? The Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Rannuge, says that grants to sports controlling bodies are handled by the Department of Sports Development, who have been advised by the Ministry to release 50 per cent of its allocations to "active bodies". He further said that SLASU had requested for Rs. 15 million for this year, but that this sum cannot be granted, but a "substantial sum" will be given for the South Asian games training programme. He went on to say that SLASU were given money even last year. However, SLASU, denies this wholesale and say that even the Rs. 15 million requested was for two years. Now comes the news that the special general meeting of SLASU summoned for March 10 after the sudden resignation of its President, Rear Admiral Wasantha Karanagoda, saw only SSP Kithsiri Dayananda's nomination been received, but none for the two Vice-Presidents posts. There seems to be another problem - no quorum for the March 10 meeting. Now it's to be rescheduled and nominations called again. There are also rumours of the Ministry of Sport is to dissolve SLASU and appoint an Interim Committee to run its affairs. What happened to Edward? What exactly happened to Edward Wickremasuriya? Even the Police say that there are no clues todate, but it seems to be a "hit-and-run" incident. Nine of Edward's ribs were cracked and pierced his lungs and death was instant. This happened a little after midnight on Monday. |
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