|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Swimming passing through period of uncertainty The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) seems to be finding it very difficult in picking a candidate for its Presidency, which fell vacant after Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda resigned soon after the annual general meeting in December, citing "pressure of work." Since then, three special general meetings have been called, but SLASU has been unable to fill the vacancy. At the first such meeting, the nomination of a senior Police Officer was rejected as it was found that the signature of a junior Police officer, who is the SLASU Secretary was forged. Remember, these are law enforcement officers. If they could do such type of illegal things, what could one expect from an ordinary citizen of this land? Then on the second occasion, this same police officer's nomination was rejected again, but for a different reason - no seconder. On this occasion, Vijitha Fernando, the benefactor of SLASU, withdrew his nomination at the last moment, but sent in his nomination again for the third special general meeting held a couple of weeks back. What happened? There was no quorum. Only representatives of four clubs (Air Force, Fishtails, Kinross and Galle) were present. What happened to clubs like Old Thomians, Panadura, Otters, SSC and Colombo Swimming Club? Where were they on May 26? It's a very funny situation. I am now made to understand that yet another special general meeting - the fourth, will not be called for another two months at least. Although there is no President for SLASU, the usual programmes continue with Fernando taking the decisions and also financing the swimming body. He is now getting down Jim Puleo, who is a Level V coach from the USA to Sri Lanka for a period of two years at a cost of US Dollars 17,500 per year. The American is scheduled to arrive in the country on August 3, and he has coached Thailand, Panama and even a part of the US team for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where our own Susanthika Jayasinghe won a bronze medal in the 200 metres in athletics. More headaches Now, there are more headaches (or will it end up with migrain) for SLASU and Vijitha Fernando in particular. Two swimmers (Milinda Wickremasinghe and Prabha Dharmadasa) have been picked to represent the country at the World Championship at Montreal, Canada in July with SSP Kithsiri Dayananda as manager and E. G. A. Wilson (national coach) as coach. The selection of Prabha Dharmadasa has raised a hornets nest with Captain Ramzi Raheem (attached as an airline pilot of Singapore Airlines) saying that his 13-year-old daughter Mayumi Raheem, should have been picked ahead of Dharmadasa. Correspondence on this matter has been flying around in gay abandon. The Bolling's Rainbow Aquatic Club of which Mayumi Raheem is a member, seems to be behind the entire episode. I understand that Saman Amarasinghe, Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), a body that should only advice the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, have now requested Vijitha Fernando to settle the matter amicably and include Mayumi Raheem in the team for Montreal, but FINA (the world governing body) has invited only two officials and two swimmers. If a third swimmer is to be included, who is going to meet her expenses? There are problems where coach Wilson, too, is concerned. He is the coach of Prabha Dharmadasa and not of Milinda Wickremasinghe whose coach is Ruwan Manawadu. Now, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are demanding that manager SSP Dayananda steps down for Manawadu too to be taken to Montreal. If that is so, what about a lady chaperon for Prabha Dharmadasa or Mayumi Raheem? Is this not a necessity? Problems never seems to end for SLASU in recent times. Is there an orchestrated effort against it or against individuals like Vijitha Fernando? Remember the problems that faced the Ceylon Amateur Swimming Association (CASA) during the era of the Ranasinghe's and Viswanathan's? Unreasonable rates The Sugathadasa Stadium National Sports Complex Authority (SSNSCA) is charging a sum of Rs. 10,350 for the use of its swimming pool at the Indoor Stadium for a period of six hours (Rs. 1,725 per hour) and Rs. 6057.50 for a period of seven hours (Rs. 862.50) for the use of the diving pool and a further sum of Rs. 2,4150 for the use of the pool lobby auditorium. A total payment of Rs. 144,037.50 has been requested from SLASU if they want to make use of these facilities between June 12 and 18 for training purposes for the South Asian Games. Isn't these rates unreasonable Mr. Gamini Nettikumara, Chairman of SSNSCA? Controlling bodies involved in training for the South Asian Games should be permitted to use its facilities at reasonable rates. True, the electricity and water charges have been increased, but Mr. Nettikumara, you as a businessman must be needing to show profits, but you must remember that sports is all about promotion and development. Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga should step in. Most controlling bodies do not have sponsors and even finances. Again where the SSNSCA is concerned, I wonder what the delay is all about regarding the "handing over" of Bogambara Stadium to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)? I understand that the Bogambara Stadium has not yet been vested with the SSNSCA. Also, what is going on at the Nuwara Eliya Race Cource Complex? Here too I understand that a battle is going on with the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council authorities and the SSNSCA regarding the demarcation of areas. When will all these be solved? Isn't it just red tape? Rs. 3 1/2 lakhs to be recovered I understand that the Director of the SSNSCA, Cmdr. H. U. Silva owes the SSNSCA a sum of nearly Rs. 3 1/2 lakhs due as rent for his "quarters" for a period of nearly 10 years. Will the Chief Accounting Officer of SSNSCA, S. Rannuge, who is also the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, take action to recover this sum from Cmdr Silva? If not why? Also, why is the SSNSCA yet continuing to pay the salary of one domestic aid of its Director? Rienzie to quit? There is talk that Rienzie Wijetilleke, who headed the first Interim Committee of SLC in 1999-2000 (which also had Sidath Wettimuny as Secretary, Asantha de Mel as Treasurer and Michael Tissera), who is presently a member of the Interim Committee headed by Jayantha Dharmadasa is to quit at "any moment." The reason I am made to understand, is that Wijetilleke who heads the Hatton National Bank (HNB) has had a "terrific" argument with Dharmadasa. I also understand that the Treasurer of the Interim Committee, Kumar Weerasuriya, too is contemplating resigning. They are to be filled by Rodney Koelmeyer (Wattala CC cricketer who heads Superlink Travels) and Sumithra Gunasekera of John Keells. One reason why the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, suspended the SLC is, as he says, "mishandling" of its finances, but now, two persons are to be recruited by the Interim Committee. One individual is to draw a salary of Rs. 60,000 plus a Rs. 10,000 travelling allowance per month, while the other is to draw a salary of Rs. 40,000 plus Rs. 5000 as travelling allowance per month. The mobile phone suppliers to SLC too has got the chop with another company brought in who have offered 12 camera mobile phones too and now persons at SLC are "fighting" among themselves to own them. Hashan Tillakeratne, who heads Cricket-Aid, has been requested to give an explanation why he criticised the Interim Committee in an interview with a Sunday Sinhala newspaper recently. This former national captain has said that Cricket-Aid is an independent body and that he has no obligation to give an explanation to the Interim Committee. Where will this head? The cricket selectors are now to be given mobile phones, vehicle and even a monthly allowance. Remember the selectors do a honorary job right from the start. This is a debatable issue, and I wonder whether other controlling bodies for sports are in the position to do the same for their selectors? |
|
|||||||||
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
