Mud slinging at media briefing

by Lal Gunesekera

WEIGHT LIFTING: What started as a media briefing of the newly appointed Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Body Building and Fitness Federation (SLBBFF) at the 80 Club Friday evening ended up in a mud slinging bout between two of its members, Chandana Aluthge and Kapila Kumara, both former Presidents of the SLBBFF.

Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, Gamini Lokuge, had dissolved the earlier elected administration of the SLBBFF and appointed an Interim Committee last month (August) headed by former Mr. Ceylon and veteran administrator Jeff Schucroft.

The Minister had wanted Schucroft to take over the affairs of the SLBBFF and bring together various factions that were threatening the sport's unity and prosperity.

However, Schucroft, had his hands full at Friday's media briefing in attempting to bring to order both Aluthge and Kumara, who were slandering each other in frongt of all the mediamen present, to the disgust of Schucroft, who threatened to inform Minister Lokuge and resign from the post he was recently appointed.

It all came about when Schucroft tabled a letter (a petition to be exact) that was sent to Minister Lokuge by Sisirasiri Somapala who failed to find a berth in the four-member team of body builders who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Championships in Shanghai, China recently where Sisira Kumara was placed fourth (the first time that a Sri Lankan was placed after 26 years at international event).

Somapala had alleged that he was overlooked for the tour, and had made various allegations. Schucroft who tabled the letter sent by Somapala to Minister Lokuge said that it was all "wrong proceedure" and that Somapala should have sent it to the Interim Committee of the SLBBFF through his (Somapala's) club.

He promised an inquiry and disciplinary action to be taken against Somapala within two weeks.

This was the first media briefing held by the Interim Committee of the SLBBFF since its appointment last month (August) and for two of its members (Aluthge and Kumara) to openly dispute and slander each other in the midst of the media was unacceptable to say the least.

Treasurer of the Interim Committee of the SLBBFF, Chandrasena Kodituwakku, too was present, although its Secretary, B.M.D.T. Basnayake, was not, having being out of Colombo.

Before the fracas started between Aluthge and Kapila Kumara, Chairman Jeff Schucroft, told the media that he had "grand plans" to re-develop the sport and he announced the staging of the Mr. Novices meet at the BMICH on October 13 together with the Mr. Classic contest approved by the Asian Body Building Federation (ABBF) also at the BMICH on the same day (October 13).

He also disclosed that the Mr. Sri Lanka contest too is scheduled for the BMICH on December 28 and 29.

Schucroft also divulged that Sri Lanka were given the opportunity of staging the Asian Championships in Colombo next year (2008) and that he was satisfied that over 350 competitors from 30 countries will participate.

He was to discuss the matter with Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and even have an appointment with President Mahinda Rajapakse to get the government's blessings to stage this event in the country.

Schucroft also disclosed that he was making the arrangements to get down a coach from Singapore for a period of two years through one of his contemporaries Augustine Lee. Sri Lanka does not possess a national coach at the moment though Ranil Perera, who has obtained a Diploma from Sweden, has been appointed as coach.

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TO BE REMOVED

Minister Lokuge speaking to the Sunday Observer last evening said that he cannot tolerate indiscipline and will remove both Chandana Aluthge and Kapila Kumara from the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Body Building and Fitness Federation (SLBBFF). He said that there must be unity in any sports body in its development efforts.

He said that the Chairman of the Interim Committee of the SLBBFF, Jeff Schucroft, had spoken to him about the matter and explained everything and that he (the Minister) has decided to remove the two members (Aluthge and Kumara) from this organisation.