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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Why is media kept out of vital part of May 28 meeting? What has the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) got to hide from the general public? This is the million rupee question that may come to light on May 28 at 10 a.m. at the SLRFU headquarter's when they (the SLRFU) hold a special general meeting to rectify certain mistakes in the minutes of the annual general meeting held in February regarding its accounts during the tenure of Mohan Balasuriya as President. He relinquished office at the end of his two-year term with Priyantha Ekanayake, who was his deputy for two years, taking over the reigns of the SLRFU. It's very interesting why a special general meeting has been convened after about three months into office by the present set of office-bearers, most of whom were in the Council even during the previous administration. It is learned that the audited statement of accounts were proposed and seconded by two former Presidents, who had no powers to do so. This was discovered only by a Council member at a meeting in April. How come? What is strange is that both these former Presidents of the SLRFU, deny wholesale that they proposed and seconded the accounts at the AGM. I believe them, as they are distinguished personalities. It's all about a sum of Rs. 7,505,209 the SLRFU had exceeded in its expenditure during the year ending December 31, 2004, and its liabilities exceeding assets by Rs. 6,691,487. The Chartered Accountants (B. R. de Silva and Company) have stated very clearly in their annual report that these "facts and figures raise substantial doubt whether the Union will be able to continue as a going concern, unless continuous financial assistance is received from the relevant funding institutions and that the recovery of debts and receivables amounting to Rs. 934,393 is doubtful". However, a plus point for the SLRFU is that the auditors state that the SLRFU has maintained proper books of accounts. So, what has actually happened to the sum of Rs. 7,505,209/- A senior Council member representing the Southern Province RFU raised this question with ex-President Balasuriya who stated that the "monies are there". What a funny state of affairs the SLRFU has fallen into and who is responsible? In my opinion, it's Balasuriya and the entire Council who held office. I understand that a lot of questions are to be raised on this matter on May 28 and a lot of 'dirty linen' is to be washed. This could be the reason why the media is being kept out from the proceedings, meant only for the office -bearers of the Council, provincial representatives and club Presidents as decided upon by the Council. The media is invited only for a briefing to be held on the same day at 2 p.m. at the CH & FC. Why is the media been barred from attending the special general meeting-you can guess the reasons. They (the SLRFU) do not want what is discussed inside closed doors from getting out. What a way to keep the public informed. That's transparency for your information. It's not too late for Priyantha Ekanayake and his Council members to permit the media personnel to attend this special general meeting, which is of public importance, if they have nothing to hide. Come, Come, we too have a right to know what is happening in the SLRFU. We are not fools - we can see through. This certainly points to a cover up. Accept defeat One must learn to accept defeat, either on the field or out. The latest method adopted by losing candidates at AGM's is to complain to relevant authorities and initiate inquiries. The latest involves the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) where the losing candidate for the post of President, Mrs. Trixie Nanayakkara, has complained to both the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the National Sports Council (NSC) that the election was "unconstitutional". She says that the election should have been by open ballot and not a secret ballot as was the case. She has made other allegations too. The constitution of the NFSL states it could be either open or secret ballot, whereas the outdated Sports Law stipulates that it should be an open ballot. The popular Mrs. Tamara Dharmakirthi Herath is a member of the Colombo District NA and had a proxy from the Free Trade Zone NA. She won by 19 votes to 11. If the Sports Law differs from the constitution of the NFSL, how did the AGM's of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) and Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVF) have their voting by secret ballot? Why didn't anyone make a protest then? I understand that Saman Jayasinghe, Chairman of the NSC, held discussions with the parties concerned last week, and agreement reached for both Mrs. Dharmakirthi Herath and Mrs. Nanayakkara to work together for the betterment of the sport concerned. He has handed over his report to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, who have now requested its Director-General Milton Amarasinghe is meet the parties concerned on May 25 and come to a final settlement. No apology Mrs. Lourdes Jayasekera, who was removed as the national netball coach during the previous administration of Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapakse, wife of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, says that she will not bow down and apologise for various allegations made against her for her removal. She has been requested to tender an apology, but has been re-instated as national netball coach. She says that she is not guilty of any wrong doing. She was in the Maldives recently and has just returned. She says that the NFSL owes her three months remuneration and that they (NFSL) have yet to pay nearly Rs 3 lakhs to the Sugathadasa Stadium Hotel. The postponed Asian Championship now to be staged in September in Singapore sees Mrs Trixie Nanayakkara trying to use all her influence at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in attempts to accompany the Sri Lanka side as manageress. NFSL President Mrs Tamara Dharmakirthi Herath has to clear plenty of hurdles set in front of her, but is determined to clear them and get netball in this country back on track. She has the support from Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga himself and also from the Asian and world bodies, and I am certain that she will succeed. I wish you all the best. Musical chairs Musical chairs at the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) continues. I understand that the Goal Project of FIFA is to be headed by a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FFSL. Chrysantha Perera, who also held the post of Secretary of the FFSL, while the former President of the FFSL, ex-DIG Gamini Randeni, is to be the CEO. He was also a Vice President of FFSL at one stage. Their "allowances" are been met by FIFA and AFC. Are they paying income tax on their earnings and if not, why? Athletes deprived Sri Lankan athletes have been deprived of competing at the Asian Grand Prix for no fault of theirs, but purely due to the infighting now in progress by certain officials of SLAA who are now trotting out lame excuses for the non-participation at Indonesia on June 18, Thailand on June 21 and Singapore on June 24. Legal battles are also on at Hultsdorp and it's the poor athletes who are suffering. Minister Kumaratunga met both the President of the SLAA, Janaka Bandara Tennekoon (Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils) and Derwin Perera the Deputy Director of Sports, to try and settle the dispute. He also met senior athletes and coaches and discussed their grievances. I understand that Sunil Jayaweera (former President who is now a Vice-President) has been requested to step down. Due to all these problems at SLAA, about 60 coaches were denied from attending a training programme at Patiala, India. They are to be selected again, but will those coaches who supported Derwin Perera at the AGM of SLAA be given the chop? What's going to happen to our athletics and when is this all going to end? The world Championship is to be staged at Helsinki in August, and I wonder whether Sri Lanka will be represented at all. 80th birthday The 80th birthday of a former top athlete and ruggerite, Summa Navaratnam, fell yesterday and I wish him many years more of happiness. Knowing Summa for many decades, I am certain that he is laughing at the way things are been conducted at both the SLAA and SLRFU. An old boy of Royal College. Summa, captained his alma-mater at rugby and went on to represent and lead CR & FC and Sri Lanka too, with distinction. He was also a dedicated coach and headed both CR & FC and SLRFU too. |
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