No sportsperson should be involved in administration

The Ministry of Sports says that a special workshop was held on the 26th of July 2011 at the National Olympic Committee premises to educate the sports associations and federations on the National Sports Policy, the Provincial Sports Complexes that are being constructed and on streamlining administrative procedures.

Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that sports associations and federations are important in the journey towards nurturing the sports of the country. Speaking further he stated that it has been eight months since he assumed duties at the ministry, and many new plans have been implemented since then. The most relevant and important is the drafting of the National Sports Policy which has already been completed and sent to the sports associations.

He further highlighted that the athlete or the sports person should not be involved in administration, nor should they be involved in the selection of the relevant teams/squads. He stated that it is the responsibility of the relevant sports association to maintain the discipline of the sports persons and that they have to be more alert with regard to this. The Minister of Sports stated that it is essential that the associations maintain a rapport with the Department of Sports Development and in an attempt to make this process more efficient, an officer from the department will be assigned for each sport association.

The Ministry of Sports says that would like to state that within this year, seven sports persons have been found guilty of anti-doping. The sports person as well as his coach, and the sports association are responsible for that. Therefore, they all have to be vigilant and act in a responsible manner.

As the future development of sports is directly linked with the school, sports clubs and their parent sports association, the Ministry of Sports created an understanding between the parties concerned at this workshop. Further the ministry would like to state that the workshop focused on educating the sports associations on the regulations in Article 25 of the Sports Act of 1975, with regard to sports administration.

Approximately 100 persons from the sports associations inclusive of the officials representing the 52 sports federations and schools sports associations participated in this full-day workshop. Special lectures on conducting elections on time, maintaining systematic financial records, the procedure to be followed when sending athletes abroad, anti doping substances, and on the administrative rapport to have with the Department of Sports Development were conducted at this workshop. Special sessions were conducted by Secretary of the Ministry of Sports. Udaya R. Seneviratne, President of the National Selection Committee, Air Vice Marshal Kolitha Gunathilake, Specialist Dr. Maiya Gunasekara and Yoganantha Wijesundara at the National Olympic House premises.