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| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Requirement Graduate, but 'Cmdr H. U.' with Diploma got job What are the qualifications needed for a person to hold office of Director of the Sugathadasa National Sport Complex (SNSC)? This post was advertised in the 'Daily News' of April 15, 1996 and one of the four requirements stipulated was for a "graduate of a recognised university or equivalent qualifications with 15 years executive experience in a government or statutory organisation." However, this was not followed by the then Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Rural Development S. B. Dissanayake, when appointing Cmdr H. U. Silva for the post. The Secretary of the said Ministry at that time was Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake. Cmdr Silva was seconded to the SNSC from the Navy and later on retirement, continues in the same capacity of Director. The question arises whether Cmdr Silva's appointment is legal. According to the Curriculum Vitae submitted by Cmdr Silva, he states that he is a "graduate". But this is not so. He has only received a Diploma from the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island on June 19, 1992 attested by RADM Joseph Strasser, USN. This particular officer's seal is not on the certificate (strange is it not), but only his signature and name written by ink. Is this valid ? Further, there is a big difference between a Diploma and a Degree. The dictionary states that a "Diploma is a written statement that one has passed a certain examination", while a Degree "is a honour granted by an university". In these circumstances, I wonder whether Cmdr H. U. Silva has the necessary qualifications for the post of Director of the SNSC ? How was he appointed in the first place and how was it that Dr. Ratnayake, Secretary to the Ministry at that time and a SLAS officer to boot, failed to see this discrepancy? Did he not scrutinize the information and certificates submitted by Cmdr Silva? Was it a political appointment made at that time by Minister S. B. Dissanayake? I also understand that Cmdr Silva has been reluctant to produce the original certificates for authenticity called for by the Board of Management of the SNSC, while all other members of the staff, including those in the lower grades, have done so. Why the reluctance on the part of Cmdr Silva? Has he got anything to hide? The Establishment Code also clearly states that an officer who has retired from Public Service and is re-employed on a non-pensionable basis, will be paid on the one hand his pension (without allowances) and on the other hand, the salary for the post in which he is re-employed with the allowances. So, how is it that Cmdr Silva continues to draw allowances from his pension and also from SNSC? Even some of the managers of the SNSC who are on pension from the security forces, continue to draw two allowances. How? What is the present Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Rannuge, himself a SLAS Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of the SNSC, doing about this fraud, that has been going on for nearly 10 years now? Over to you Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga. It's high time you took action about this sad state of affairs. Also, what has the Chairman of the SNSC, Gamini Nettikumara to say about all these things ? Remember, no one is above the law-every person must be treated equal, no matter who he is. Rebellious athlete The rebellious nature of one of Sri Lanka's top athletes, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, surfaced once again during the 'Bangkok leg' of the Asian Grand Prix where he was representing the country in the men's 400 metres with Prasanna Amarasekera and Mrs Bhadra Gunawardene as coach. They were accommodated at the Samila Beach Hotel, but Kumara, had booked himself a second room in the early hours of June 25 and failed to pay US Dollars 25 for this additional room. He paid this, only after his arrival in Colombo to the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA). Not only that. It was also alleged that two syringes were also found in this additional room of Kumara. Were they used for some performance enhancing drugs ? Not so, says Rohan Pradeep Kumara and says that he has been framed. Framed by whom? The Secretary of the SLAA, Prema Pinnawala, says that samples of his urine/blood were taken in front of coach Mrs Gunawardene and sent to Malaysia for testing and that the report was due "at any time". He says that an inquiry will be held on the room matter, but the main concern is about the syringes that were found in Kumara's room and allegations about "drug taking". A decision is likely to be taken by the SLAA tomorrow (Monday). This is not the first time that Rohan Pradeep Kumara has found himself in hot water. I can remember that he was accused of late nights, shop lifting and even trying to molest a young Sri Lankan lass during the World Championship in Edmonton, Canada some years back. He was also involved in a credit card fraud in Sri Lanka and this case is yet pending. Isn't it high time that the SLAA draws up a code of conduct, not only for athletes, but also for officials as well? Anyway, the two athletes (Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Prasanna Amarasekera) earned for themselves a sum of US Dollars 9,600 at the Asian Grand Prix. The former earned US Dollars 5,700 and the latter US Dollars 3,900. Kumara won at Indonesia and Bangkok and was runner-up in Singapore. Amarasekera won at Singapore and was runner-up in Indonesia and Bangkok. Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Janaka Bandara Tennekoon, who heads the SLAA after its controversial annual general meeting in March, should show more interest in the affairs of the SLAA and attend its meetings too regularly and not leave it to Karunaratne Samarasinghe, who occupies the newly created post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to take most of the decisions. This was even the same when Minister Tennekoon headed the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) a few years back. As a politician, you may not have the time to spare, and if so, please do not accept office in controlling bodies. Minister Tennekoon quite categorically told a media briefing on April 6 (his first since taking office) that he will construct a building at Torrington Square to provide hostel facilities for the athletes etc. However, he now denies making such a statement and said so at another media briefing on July 5. Come, come Mr. Minister! The SLAA are also clamouring for qualified physiotherapists to treat their injured athletes. Now, hooliganism invades hockey Hooliganism seems to have now invaded the hockey arena. At the recent finals of a tournament conducted by the Matale HA, on the Astro Turf of the Nandamithra Ekanayake Stadium between Park SC and Old Zahirians, the ground resembled a battle field. With the scores at 1-all and about five minutes remaining for the final whistle, players started hammering each other with their hockey sticks and even the spectators joined in and were seen assaulting the players. The organisers had no other alternative than to abandon the game. It's high time that sports authorities attempt to put a stop to this type of unruly behaviour, not only by the spectators, but also by players in whatever the sport may be. Only discussed, says STC The Treasurer of the S. Thomas' College Board of Governors, Sunil Pieris, writes in to say that a "concept paper" containing some of the information in my column of July 3 was presented to a sub-committee for the reconstruction of S. Thomas' (Gurutalawa) appointed by the Board of Governors. He states that it was only "discussed" and no action has been initiated as it was felt that the proposal was not feasible. Pieris goes on to state that S. Thomas' (Gurutalawa) does not have 1,700 students. However, what I have stated in my column is that these discussions were "yet in the initial stages", but I may admit that S. Thomas' (Gurutalawa) may not have 1,700 students. |
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