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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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Sports |  |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Court injunction sought to stop AGM of NOC A court injunction is being sought to prevent the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka from conducting its annual general meeting tomorrow (Monday) evening at the Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Hotel.Reliable sources revealed this to me. I understand that action is to be filed before tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, who made a pledge a couple of weeks back to meet the National Sports Council (NSC) one either last Monday or Tuesday (November 7 or 8) failed to do so. This pledge was made in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also the Presidential Candidate of the UPFA. Perhaps Minister Kumaratunga felt that there was no necessity to meet with the NSC which is an advisory body, which he has bypassed on numerous occasions, including not even consulting them when he decided unilaterally to amend the controversial Sports Law No. 25 of 1975. The Presidential Investigation Unit (PIU) had visited the NOC headquarter's, but had not met the NOC chief Hemasiri Fernando or his trusted lieutenant Cmdr (rtd) H. U. Silva, the NOC Secretary. I understand that an important official of the PIU has been posted to Amparai, but that the PIU will get fully involved in the NOC case from November 18 (after the Presidential election). They are to inquire into various allegations made against the NOC including financial mismanagement, and even certain "doings" of top officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, who will come under the microscope of the PIU. I also understand that the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Ranugge, had met President Chandrika Kumaratunga, and requested her to drop charges made by the PIU against certain Ministry officials including its Director-General Milton Amarasinghe and Deputy Director Derwin Perera. The inquiry against these officials and recommended action to be taken against them was communicated to Ranugge by the PIU a few months back, but no action has been taken. Sanath's future It's time for both Sanath Jayasuriya and the cricket selectors to think seriously about the former's future. He has a string of poor scores in recent times, faulty technique and prone to injury. The time is ripe for him to retire. Otherwise, he must take a rest for sometime correct his technique and get back to full physical fitness. Continuing to wield the willow, he is only depriving someone else from coming into the national side. There cannot be one rule for the seniors and another for juniors. If a player cannot maintain form, he must be dropped. It's high time that the national selectors gave up the false image of national asset which has crept into almost every sport - not only cricket. If you are over the hill, you are over the hill! India's Saurav Gunguly's case must be taken as an example. Greg Chappell, the Australian who is the now coach of India, wanted Ganguly dropped. The selectors and the Indian Cricket Board saw reason and what is happening now could be seen. Youth have come to the fore and they have been performing excellently. The policy of our selectors/team management is obviously the same old, old, policy -live on past glories. Even both Australia and South Africa have gone in for youth, so has England. They have proved that there is no room for old brooms. Our selectors should take a cue. Some of our seniors have not been performing consistently. They must be "rested" and youth given the opportunity of showing their capabilities. Think anew Mr. Kaluperuma and rest of the selectors. Match fixing Sri Lankan cricketers playing in the English League are in a quandary. They are been inundated with questions about a powerful selector who is alleged to be involved in match fixing. Wherever they play, they are asked this question and they have no answer. This particular selector who had gone to India for a Masters tournament sometime back, is alleged to have "thrown away" games. Who is this rebel? Bonanza for selectors On the topic of the selectors, I understand that they are now paid a monthly allowance of Rs 25,000/ each plus other perks, including mobile phones etc. There are four of them at the moment-Lalith Kaluperuma as Chairman, K.M.Nelson, Don Anurasiri and Shabir Asgerally. The replacement for Pramodya Wickramasinghe has not yet been made. US dollars 350 a day! Sri Lanka cricketers are now touring India for seven One-Day Internationals. Accompanying them is selector, Don Anurasiri, and I understand that he gets US Dollars 350 a day for this near three-week tour from the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). This comes to about Rs 7 1/2 lakhs. Anurasiri was also sent to New Zealand with the Sri Lanka 'A' side. He witnessed only the One-Day games. Most of the time he was is London attending to his business interests, but claimed US Dollars 350 per day. No coach Sri Lanka's Under-19 team to tour India was announced last week, but it is very strange that a coach has yet to be appointed by SLC. Sumithra Warnakulasuriya, who was our Under-19 coach, resigned, and SLC had inserted an advertisement in the national newspapers calling for applications for the post. Referees assaulted Referees (soccer and rugby) were assaulted by players recently. At an soccer match at Galle Face last week between Army and Jupitors, the referee was abused by two players (one was a national poolist) after been shown the "Red Card". Army were leading 2-0 at this stage and an inquiry was to be held and it is likely that these two players from Jupitors will be suspended. Then at inter-regimental rugby match of the Army at Galle Face, referee was assaulted and the game was called off six minutes ahead of schedule, This matter has been reported to both the SLRFU and the Referees Society. Puleo quits Jim Puleo, the American swimming coach who arrived in the country in August, left the island last week disgusted with the state of affairs of the newly appointed Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports over the extension of his visa. The Secretary to the Ministry, S. Ranugge, had issued a letter to the Immigration Department regarding Puleo's extension of visa, but I understand that Samantha Wickramasighe, Secretary of the Interim Committee had held onto it, without forwarding it to the immigration authorities. Puleo was brought down on the assurance of the then acting President of SLASU, Vijitha Fernando, to train our swimmers for the South Asian Games next year (2006) in Sri Lanka. Fernando had made all arrangements on behalf of SLASU and even paid the American his fees, made his travel arrangements, found an apartment etc. Fernando spent Rs 2.5 million out of his own pocket. SLASU also owes Fernando a further sum of Rs 1.3 million. Who is going to undertake to re-pay this money now? Not only that, who is going to coach our swimmers for the South Asian Games? National coach E. G. A. Wilson, was sacked by the Interim Committee (only the Minister has the powers to do so). The Interim Committee are now going to get dawn a coach from Australia. The Chairman of selectors, Commodore Harshadeva Karannangoda (bother of former SLASU President now commander of the Air Force) has resigned in disgust, and in his letter of resignation has made a scathing attack about the manner the Nationals were held. The other selectors too have resigned. I understand that the governing body (FINA) has been informed about the turn of events. Pressed out Why were the media personnel inconvenienced at the recent National Swimming Championships? They were pushed from pillar to post and even a table was not provided for them to take down the results, which were even difficult to obtain. It was a very sorry state of affairs, never to be repeated in the future - I hope. Dollars for the Wineman The latest news about the Organising Committee for the Youth (Under-19) Cricket World Cup to be staged in Sri Lanka in January - February next year (2006), is an allowance of US Dollars 1500 per month to be paid to the Media Co-ordinator of SLC who has been absorbed into this particular committee. He is an owner of a wine store in Borella. Earlier, a member of the main Tour Organising Committee who was alleged to have smuggled liquor into the VIP Room at the Rangiri Dambulu Stadium during the Indian Oil Cup Triangular, who also absorbed into the World Youth Cup Organising Committee and paid an allowance of US Dollars 3,000. He in turn, brought in his sister-in-law too into this committee as Secretary. Later, two employees of SLC were also absorbed into this particular committee and paid an allowance of US Dollars 2,000 each. The Media Co-ordinator is hardly in office and so is Mr. Hilton his boss. Make hay while the sun shines seems to be the motto of SLC now, with money coming in from I.C.C. JP's Outstanding sports personalities are to be appointed All-Island Justices of the Peace (JPs) by the Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms John Seneviratne, on the recommendations of the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga. Who will be in this list will be interesting to see! Divers for Melbourne Five swimmers were recommended by SLASU to swim at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia in March next year (2006). They were in order of merit:Condrad Francis, Mayumi Raheem, Prabha Dharmadasa, Andrew Abeysinghe and Heshan Unamboowe. But what has happened now? Only Condrad Francis has got the nod from the Interim Committee, who are also to send two divers now to Melbourne. It's a joke. How could divers from Sri Lanka compete with those from countries like Canada, Great Britain and Australia? Cutting the birthday cake I take this opportunity to wish Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Jeevan Kumaratunga, the very best. He celebrated his birthday last Monday (November 7). It must have been some birthday 'doings' for our youthful Minister. What with the jolly boys round him taking him for a ride in their merry-go-round. Of course, the big cake to have been cut must certainly revolve around the NOC and the amended Sports Law. The main actors have been Hemasiri Fernando, H. U. Silva and Ranugge, the Ministry Secretary who look set to beat the actor Minister on the Olympic screen. Queries on tsunami aid The Auditor-General has queried the manner in which tsunami aid to the sum of US Dollars 45,000 from the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) has been put into use by Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA). He states that there are also discrepancies in the way the money was utilised, particularly to improve infrastructure of tsunami affected schools in Minister Kumaratunga's electorate of Moratuwa. |
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