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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera An impartial inquiry on athletic boss needed Problems never seem to end with the new administration of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) since the Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Janaka Bandara Tennekoon, took office as its President at the controversial annual general meeting in March. This issue is now in the law courts of Hulftsdorp. The latest news is that a former President of SLAA, Sunil Gunawardene, a gold medallist at the Tehran Asian Games and one of the country's leading coaches, has demanded the resignation of the SLAA President. Minister Tennekoon, whom he (Gunawardene) says is incapable of running its (SLAA) affairs. Gunawardene, has also protested on the appointment of the millionaire ship-chandler Kiran Atapattu as manager to South Korea for the Asian Championship next month (September) as well as for the 10th South Asian Games scheduled to be staged in Sri Lanka in April next year (2006). It's not only Gunawardene, but Derwin Perera (Deputy Director of Sports of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports) and Brigadier (rtd) Parry Liyanage, too has protested over Atapattu's appointment and wants it withdrawn. They have sent letters of resignation as coaches to the Lankan side to compete in South Korea in protest. What a mess the SLAA are in! The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, has promised to "inquire and take action" on those persons responsible for the failure of three young athletes participating at the World Youth Championship in Morocco last month (July). It's too late Mr. Minister - the damage has already been done. This "mess up" can be attributed to the Treasurer of SLAA, H. W. Nimalasiri, who was put in charge of the travel arrangements of the athletes. He bungled badly and it was the young athletes who suffered in the end. Nimalasiri failed in his duties miserably, and there is certainly no point of an inquiry. Twelve days seem to have not been sufficient for Nimalasiri to make the arrangements. Even certain statements of accounts submitted by Nimalasiri was not accepted by the Executive Committee of SLAA recently due to several discrepancies and Nimalasiri was requested to submit fresh statements of accounts at the next meeting. That's the type of Treasurer that the SLAA elected. In my opinion, the Secretary of the SLAA, Prema Pinnewale, should have been put in charge of making the travel arrangements of our youngsters to Morocco. A seasoned traveller overseas, I am sure that Pinnewale would not have bungled, but performed a wonderful job without any difficulty. He is now in Helsinki, Finland with his wife to attend the Congress of the IAAF together with Minister Tennekoon and his wife. This is mainly to thank the IAAF for the US Dollars 45,000/= provided for tsunami assistance. Now what has happened? The money was handed over to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for a school rebuilding project in Moratuwa - an electorate represented by Minister Kumaratunga in Parliament. Why? Is this to curry favours? Sports Law must be scrapped Remember Nagalingam Ethirweerasingham, the legendary high-jumper who won a gold medal for his country at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan? Well, he is back in his country of birth from the USA where he migrated many decades back. He now works as a volunteer in a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). He says that the Sports Law brought in by the late K. B. Ratnayake when he was the Minister of Sports, be scrapped and that the Ministry must stop interfering with the activities of controlling bodies. This suggestion is debatable, but, must be taken seriously by Minister Kumaratunga. The outspoken 'Ethir' knows his onions, and says that not only Minister Kumaratunga, but all his advisers do not seem to know anything about sports and are only "messing things up." He also advises all athletes to learn the English language, train everyday and strive for improvement. Ethir has also condemned the facilities provided to athletes and poor administration. How true this is. His advice should be taken in good faith and put into practice, although I know for certain it will not be. Peculiar rule Why doesn't the National Olympic Committee (NOC) communicate with the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU)? It's no secret that there is no love lost between the hierarchy of NOC and Vijitha Fernando, the power behind the SLASU, who has exposed the "happenings" of the NOC and its duo over and again in his weekly column in a newspaper not of ANCL group. Fernando has been unsuccessful in getting the attention of Minister Kumaratunga and his "trusted" band of officials, who have not shown any interest in conducting an inquiry into the affairs of the NOC, who seems to be above the law. The NOC are hiding behind a regulation that states that they will not communicate with any controlling body that does not have an elected President. This is the excuse. What a shame! On the NOC, I am made to understand by reliable sources that Minister Kumaratunga at last is to probe into monies sent to NOC for tsunami relief work and what has happened to them. The Ministry's Additional Secretary, Dahanayake, has been appointed to inquire into this matter. Down the grapewine comes the news that both Hemasiri Fernando (President of NOC) and Cmdr (rtd) H. U. Silva (Secretary, NOC) are now in a quandrary. I also learn that Minister Kumaratunga has not permitted them (the NOC) to amend its constitution that would have given them another term to hold office. Even the one year extension supposed (I repeat, supposed) to have been given by Minister Kumaratunga to both Fernando and Silva to carry on till after the 10th South Asian Games next year, is been contested by many, who ask one question. That is: Has the Minister given his approval in writing? If not, the NOC officials are clinging into office illegally. What ails Havies rugby? What on earth has gone wrong with rugby at Havelocks this year? They were thrashed by their traditional rivals CR & FC in the first-round of the Caltex League and even suffered defeat at the hands of Navy. A former President of the club is of the opinion that there is a lack of commitment on the part of the players who turn up for practices and that the club does not have the necessary funds to recruit good players. There are also "internal problems" that has affected the rugby side with a few factions emerging within the club. He also suggests that the best time to have their annual general meeting is in the month of January and not March as this will help to "build up a structure?" for the season. Tony Amith, a former national coach, who was in charge of the Havelocks side this season, resigned as coach after his side's humiliating defeat at the hands of CR. I now understand that another former national coach, who also coached Havies a few years back, Ana Saranapala, has been "recalled" from retirement. Many were the members who wanted Saranapala to return. He has agreed, but on one condition - no interference. Best of luck to you Ana. Drag racing A new craze among the rich youngsters in Colombo nowadays seems to be 'Drag Racing' which occurs round the Vihara Maha Devi Park and even on the stretch down Elvitigala Mawatha. Brand new cars race each other soon after midnight which is a danger not only to other traffic on the road, but pedestrians too. Even these racers too face danger. The Police/Traffic Police seems to turn a blind-eye to this menace. Why cant the law enforcement officers prosecute these dangerous youth who make a nuisance of themselves on public roads? If you want to race and "show off" your cars, do it on the racing tracks of Katukurunda please. Forgotten lot Has Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) forgotten that it was the late Gamini Dissanayake who was responsible for getting the country admitted as full members of the ICC when he headed the then Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL)? I am sure they have, otherwise, why didn't they invite his wife, Mrs. Srima Dissanayake, for the country's 150th Test that was played at the SSC grounds against the West Indies. On the question of invitees, I am told that even those at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports were not sent invitations by SLC, for the Tests and One-Dayers, but actors and actresses were among the invitees. Double standards SLC's acting CEO, Bandula Warnapura, did not give permission for Premasara Epasinghe to be released to give commentaries for SLBC as requested by its Chairman, Hudson Samarasinghe for the 150th Test match. They (the SLC) says that an employee cannot work at another establishment. I wonder whether Warnapura can remember giving commentaries with Epasinghe on Rupavahini earlier? He too was a paid employee of SLC at that time. Why the double standards SLC and Mr. Warnapura? Earlier, Epasinghe, was granted duty leave for two months when employed at Bank of Ceylon to give commentaries in 1985 when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan. Even Saliya Ahangama when he was Secretary of BCCSL gave commentaries. Why cannot SLC felicitate Epasinghe and Palitha Perera too? They gave commentaries when Sri Lanka played its First Test, 50th Test, 100th Test and even the 150th Test. If Herbie Felsinger was felicitated, why not Epasinghe and Perera? Payment stopped The cheque for Rs. 197,000/= issued by SLC to Kalutara PCC to play in the under-23 tournament on June 12 has been stopped by SLC. Why? I understand that there is an "inquiry pending" and that the National Development Committee of SLC has requested that payment be stopped. Isn't it unfair as Kalutara PCC has already played three games in this tournament. The President of Kalutara PCC, Anura Weerasinghe, says that this is all an "internal conflict" within the Kalutara PCC and SLC has no business to stop payment. |
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