Clubs ineligible to vote have got 'green light' - Dr. Maiya Gunasekera

By Lal Gunasekera

GENERAL SPORTS: Four sports controlling bodies which include Netball, Cycling and Elle have not yet been approved to conduct their annual general meetings by the Ministry of Sports on the recommendations of the National Sports Council (NSC).

The Chairman of the NSC, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, told the Sunday Observer that allegations have been received by the Director-General of the Department of Sports Development. B.D. Dahanayake, that certain clubs that are not eligible to vote have received the “green light” to vote from controlling bodies at their annual general meetings.

Dr. Gunasekera said that they (the NSC through the Director-General) has decided to write to the Sports Ministers of every Provincial Council to verify whether these clubs are eligible to vote or not. If the annual general meetings are to be held (March 31 was the final day), special permission has to be obtained from the Ministry.

Of the 52 controlling bodies registered with the Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation, only 12 were approved to conduct their annual general meetings - Soccer, Golf, Squash, Boxing, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Motor Sports, Rowing, Carrom, Athletics and Bridge. Rugby had already had their annual general meeting according to the law. The nine Interim Committees will continue.

“The 39 sports controlling bodies were requested to send all details pertaining to eligibility of clubs to the Director-General before March 28, but only two or three responded.

Minister Gamini Lokuge then decided to hold a meeting with all controlling bodies, but certain bodies like Tennis and Elle said that they will have to write to these clubs and got the information needed. It was then that the Minister decided to write to the clubs through the Director-General” said Dr. Gunasekera.

He further said that the NSC cannot look into the accounts of each and every controlling body and that Minister Lokuge was “very interested” to find out about the eligibility of clubs to vote at annual general meetings.