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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Sports |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Do politicians want to improve standing by heading sports bodies? On April 10 to be exact, I suggested in my column to the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, to bring in legislation in Parliament to keep out politicians from holding office in controlling bodies. What has transpired now? The private members motion moved by UNF parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake on the very same issue in Parliament on June 10 was defeated. Minister Kumaratunga speaking on this occasion has said that the sports arena has benefitted immensely due to the patronage extended by politicians to sports bodies and he mentioned about the success of our cricket team and Susanthika Jayasinghe's achievements in athletics. He said that the intervention and assistance of politicians is necessary for the improvement of sports. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arjuna Ranatunga under whom Sri Lanka won the Cricket World Cup, praised the prominent role played by the late Gamini Dissanayake (Minister of Mahaweli Development in the J. R. Jayawardene regime) in gaining Test status for the country. He also spoke about Lakshman Jayakoddy and Tyronne Fernando (now with the UPFA government and Governor of the North-East Province). Ranatunga too does not blame the politicians, but persons who come in to hold office to gain a name and recognitions for themselves. He too says that politicians should be allowed to hold office in sports bodies to get sponsors and other facilities needed. Come, Come Messrs Kumaratunga and Ranatunga. Surely the only attraction for sports bodies to find the necessary finances is certainly not the politicians. They can, as long as they are in power find funds, but on the other hand, what about their hangers-on who take advantage out of this and fill their own pockets and dictate terms to others in sports bodies? If the general membership of any sports body elects its office-bearers, it's because they have their faith in them - to find the finances, get work done and develop that respective sport. Now what has happened? Two such examples are Cricket and Athletics. Both bodies have gone to courts and this is certainly not good for sports. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was suspended by the Minister Kumaratunga when Thilanga Sumathipala was about to be elected uncontested as the President of SLC. Now this matter lies in the courts. What about the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA)? The losing candidate for the post of President in this body, Derwin Perera, has cried foul over the voting at the annual general meeting and intimidation. What decisions will be finally reached by the courts of law is left to be seen. This is what happens when there is political interference. There are politicians holding office in sports bodies at the moment and many bodies have Interim Committees running their affairs. Let's wait and see how they fare and what development takes place in their respective bodies. I do not want to antagonise anyone, but in my opinion, politicians must be kept out and political interference should not take place if sports is to prosper. Finally Minister Kumaratunga, what has happened to the suggested amendments to the Sports Law made by the Sidath Sri Nandalochana Committee and the report even submitted by your good friend, the Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), Saman Amarasinghe, a few months back? By now, they must be gathering dust. Rs. 80 m for NOC HQ's The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka is to construct the headquarter's next to the grandiose Football House near the former Race Course at a cost of Rs. 80 million (that is what is estimated at the moment). They are now occupying a part of the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium complex. The President of the NOC, Hemasiri Fernando, said that the government has promised Rs. 30 million towards this project, and I am certain that the NOC under Fernando and its Secretary, H. U. Silva, will have no difficulty at all in obtaining/finding the balance Rs. 50 million from their contacts made over the years in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sports bodies round the world. They have travelled (and continue to do so) and made many friends. However, I am made to understand by very reliable sources, that whatever remittances from overseas for this project of the NOC, will have to go through the Treasury and not direct to the NOC itself. This is certainly one way for the government keeping a close tab of foreign remittances been sent to local sports bodies. But, why only apply it to the NOC? Why not apply the same rule to a sports body like the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)? The NOC chief said that he plans to "give out" certain rooms within the new NOC complex to controlling bodies who cannot afford to have their own headquarters. This is a very good idea indeed, but will it be implemented or even rent charged? How long will it take to start construction on this project and complete it for the NOC to go into occupation? I understand that this is to be completed before the 10th South Asian Games to be staged in Sri Lanka next April. On the topic of the NOC, what is happening to the amendments to its Constitution now with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports? With Minister Kumaratunga allowing the NOC to postpone their annual general meeting by a year (other controlling bodies had to have theirs before March 31 this year) just because of the postponed South Asian Games, I wonder whether the Minister will approve of the amendments to the NOC Constitution too which will allow the globe-trotting NOC duo to continue in office for another term or two. Wouldn't that be really nice for these two charmeleons. Let's wait and see - nothing is impossible with these two personalities. Last laugh for Thilanga Many were the critics when Thilanga Sumathipala started on the Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium. It's a beautiful pierce of construction and many who have had the opportunity of seeing it, has praised it, including international cricketing personalities. It's in the dry zone of the country. The West Indies 'A' side is to tour Sri Lanka from June 20 to July 20 and were scheduled to play two "Tests" - one at Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy and the other at the CCC grounds, Maitland Crescent. However, with the South-West Monsoon setting in, the Interim Committee of SLC, has decided that the game scheduled for Asgiriya be shifted to Dambulla and the other to the Colts grounds, Havelock Park. Dambulla is the perfect venue to play a game of cricket when the other parts of the country experience heavy rains, and Sumathipala, had the foresight to build a fantastic stadium at Dambulla. He must be laughing his guts out now that one game with the Windies 'A' is to be staged at this particular venue. Ban/suspension required The President of Negombo Youth, Ranjith Rodrigo, who is also the Treasurer of the FFSL, has again got himself involved in controversy. On this occasion, he was kept at the Grandpass Police overnight, following an assault on referee Priyankara Pieris after Negombo Youth had lost 0-1 to Renown in their semi-final game of the recent Rantharu Football Championship for the M. S. A. Salley Trophy. Referee Pieris was the centre of another incident at the Ratnam vs Saunders game of the same tournament which was won by the latter 2-1. He has accused three Ratnam players of assaulting him and even stealing his stop-watch. This was also at the end of the game and the referee says that he can identify the culprits involved. Where Rodrigo is concerned, I can remember the fracas after his team (Negombo Youth) lost to Blue Star of Kalutara in a final a couple of months back. He disputed the winning goal made by the Kalutara side and even did not permit his side to walk-up and receive the runners-up award. He refused to accept defeat. It's high time for the FFSL (of which Manilal Fernando has a big say) to weed out those "gentlemen" who bring disrepute to the game. Severe disciplinary action should be taken against these persons and the game will be better off. Negombo Youth are also involved in another row. This time it has erupted with Jupitors (also of Negombo) with the FFSL with holding a sum of Rs. 10 million allocated to develop the Kadolkelle grounds at Negombo. Jupitors took over the management of this ground controversially for a period of 10 years from the Negombo Municipal Council (NMC) and have refused to hand it over to the Negombo Football League. Now the FFSL have requested the NMC to resolve this issue for them (the FFSL) to develop the Kadolkelle grounds.
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