National Sports Policy activated:

Better times for sports in international arena

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said his Ministry has identified 17 sports as medal winning games for Sri Lanka, at international tournaments. Of these, the Ministry intends to raise five sports up to international standards within the next few years.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said the Ministry is in the process of formulating a National Sports Policy and will introduce new regulations to the sports sector. A decision has also been taken to activate a National Pool throughout the year. Meanwhile, the Minister is confident several sports could be brought to international level in the near future.

The Minister said the aim is to transform sports into an economic power, similar to developed countries like Germany, England and America. Sri Lanka has the capacity to fit into such a mould,promoting cricket alone will not be the answer. We should promote other sports as well, just how Germany popularised soccer.

At present there is an obvious setback in the sports sector, it has been commercialised. In the past, sportsmen were mindful of bringing glory to the country and were not thinking of glory for themselves.

Things have changed and personal achievement has taken centre-stage. The only way to overcome this is to introduce necessary legislation that will stem the rot and formulate a program to provide necessary facilities to sportsmen by empowering them economically.

Q: There is a lot of criticism on the amount of money being spent on the bid for the Commonwealth Games and on the Games itself in the event we win the bid. What in your opinion are the benefits of hosting the Commonwealth Games here?

A: We have secured the services of a reputed company to prepare the bid and to canvas votes so that we can win the bid. We have advertised for international tenders and received about four or five applicants. After evaluating them, we have selected the best one. The company is BMC Legacy. Australia is spending about two or three billion US dollars trying to win the bid. In comparison we have spent a small amount, only about Rs.200 million.

We have selected a good consultancy firm. Secondly,in the event we are successful in our bid, the money that is going to be spent will be 75 percent from the private sector. The Opposition is making a hue and cry saying that this an unwanted expense. Take Malaysia for example, when former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed was bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 1998, there was a similar situation in Malaysia. There was a huge issue on the economic front, in addition to the political situation in Malaysia at that time. According to a book I have read written by Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, he has said that he was planning to quit due to the financial and political crisis that prevailed at that time. But the situation changed after Malaysia won the bid for the Commonwealth Games and there was an unprecedented economic boom in the country following the bid. The Commonwealth Games is the second biggest international games forum. In this context it is advantageous to host the games and we are making an all-out effort to win the bid. The Opposition is just making a fuss not taking into account the advantages that can accrue in our favour . Q: Are you confident of winning the bid in November?

A: Of course. We have done our level best to win the bid. Two Commonwealth Games committees has already visited the venues. Everybody who came here was very happy with our project proposals and our sites. We are hoping that we will win the bid and be able to host the Games.

Q: We returned empty handed from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year, but our attempts at the World Athletic Championships was more promising. Will Sri Lanka be in a better position in terms of athletics and other sports by 2018?

A: As far as sports is concerned there is a steep decline, but this was not the situation about three or four years ago. We won the Cricket World Cup and got medals for Olympics, at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. But now there is a steep decline in Athletics. The South Asian Games held in China is the best example. We could not get even a Bronze medal. The commercialisation of sports has led to this downfall. We have prepared a seven-year plan targeting the Commonwealth Games. Rules and regulations in sports are archaic and we don’t have a national policy on sports.

We are in the process of formulating a national sports policy and will envisage that we can then get back on track in the next one or two years. We have commenced a program to financially assist athletes. Now, when an athlete comes to national level, he tries to earn money. They appear in advertisements or go to a foreign country to do various sports or if it is cricket they play for foreign clubs. Now it’s a question of money being the prime mover. This is a very unfortunate situation. To overcome this situation, rules and regulations will be put in place to provide necessary facilities to sportsmen by economically empowering them. As long as this is not done, it would be difficult for us to fulfil our task.

Q: Shouldn’t more recognition and encouragement be given to promising athletes. Upamalika Ratnakumari, who won a gold at the Singapore Open, had to go home by bus.

There was no one even to welcome her at the airport. What are the steps being taken to give recognition and facilities to promising athletes?

A: This is a very unreasonable comment made by certain sections of the media. The Singapore Open was not a world class event. It is a Singapore tournament. These tournaments are held world over. We give priority only to SAARC Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. These are the four recognized games in the world. Some tournaments are jointly organized by various sports clubs. Upamalika took part in an event of this nature. Before this too, there were athletes who have won medals in tournaments of this kind and there was no official welcome as such. There are international tournaments which are recognised by the Sports Ministry. An official welcome is spelt out only in the event athletes have won in international events. Meanwhile, recently some athletes participated in a tournament in China but they were not officially welcomed nor were they felicitated. A particular journalist had written about the Upamalika incident and then a Minister pledged to give her a house. But this kind of thing undermines sports and we should not resort to it.

Q: What are your plans to develop the sports sector in the coming years? Can Sri Lanka aspire to reach international standards in sports other than cricket?

A: Definitely. There are 52 sports in Sri Lanka. We have categorised them into A,B and C grades. Seventeen of them have been categorised as A grade and as medal winning calibre. Maximum facilities will be provided to develop sports.

An all- the- year round national pool has been envisaged and they will be coached by foreign coaches. Other sports should also be given recognition , like how Germany has popularized soccer. According to world rankings, we are at a very low ranking in soccer. We hope to bring at least five sports up to international standards. The problem now is that only when an international event is announced that a national pool is selected.

This should not be the case. There should be a national pool all the year round, so that the very best athletes could be selected to take part.

Q: What are your plans to eliminate corruption in sports bodies, especially the Cricket Board which has lost billions of rupees and asked the Government for funds? What are your plans to stop politicisation of all sports bodies and political interference in sports bodies?

A: The Cricket Board has asked for Rs.2 billion from the Government. But that is because of three venues were constructed in Hambantota, Pallekele and Keththarama. They have spent around Rs.7.1 billion to develop these three venues. When an international venue is constructed, the Government extends support. In Bangladesh, they got Rs.6 billion to bid for the World Cup. When we were bidding for the World Cup, the Government gave a guarantee and the President signed the bid document by giving an assurance to the ICC that the Government is going to support it. We can’t do an international event without the Government’s support. If we are going to host the Commonwealth Games, the Government will give its support.

There is corruption in sports bodies as well. That is why we are going to change the existing regulations. I am very strict about corruption in the Ministry. At the moment, I have made a few changes in the Ministry. With the National Sports Policy and new regulations, we would be able to eliminate corruption in sports bodies.

Q: What are your plans to develop sports facilities in the rural areas, including the North and the East? Is there a plan to identify emerging sports stars in the rural areas?

A: We have started a program called “Lowa Dinana Kreeda Shakthi”. Under this program, we will identify 1080 athletes in 15 sports. Once we identify them we will pay a monthly allowance of Rs.1000, give them a bus pass and other necessary equipment.

We have to take sports into the villages, if we are to win medals. What has happened at the moment is when an athlete comes to the finals at national level, they then get back to the villages and cannot return to the city due to financial constraints. Following a request made by me, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has given approval to establish nine sports complexes in nine provinces. The Ministry has already started four complexes in Kilinochchi , Anuradhapura, Uva and Kandy. In addition, arrangements have been made to set up 25 sports complexes in 25 districts and 314 grounds at Divisional Secretariat level.

Q: How confident is the Government about winning the Local Government polls in Municipal Councils such as Colombo where the UNP has won up to now?

A: At present we have secured power in all Pradeshiya Sabhas which means that villages are with the President. We will definitely win all the Municipal Councils as well. The best example is to take the UNP list in Colombo. In their list, there is no recognised person whom people can vote for.

Though the UNP Mayoral candidate is a Muslim, he does not have the support of the Muslims. There is no unity in the UNP.

If we take the UPFA list, our Mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda is a former Minister. In addition prominent UNPers like former Minister Sirisena Cooray’s son, former CMC Deputy Mayor Azad Sally, former UNP Deputy Minister Maharoof and former CMC Mayor Ganeshalingam’s wife are contesting the CMC under the UPFA banner.

We have fielded a group of reputed candidates in the UPFA list.

The people in Colombo are well aware about the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in Colombo. Under the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Urban Development Authority is doing a tremendous job to develop Colombo. At present everybody is appreciating the steps taken by the Government to clean and develop Colombo city. The situation in Kandy is also the same. The UPFA has fielded a brilliant team of candidates for the Kandy Municipal Council. There is no prominent candidate to vote in the UNP list for the Kandy Municipal Council. The Government has done a lot to develop Kandy city. At present every village in the Kandy district is being developed. The Government won the villages at the previous Local Government elections as the Government developed these villages. Likewise, we are now developing the towns. Therefore we have a lot of confidence that the Government would be able to win all Municipal Councils. At present there is a huge political crisis in the UNP. They are not trying to win the elections but are fighting against their Leader. As a result of the development carried out by the Government in the cities and the confidence the people have in the President,we are definitely going to win the forthcoming Local Government elections.

Q: The UNP, however says that they will commence the battle of toppling the Government by capturing power in the Colombo Municipal Council. Despite the internal party crisis, do you think the UNP is in a position to win the CMC?

A: The UNP leaders have not been able to come on a single platform and address the people. UNP MP Sajith Premadasa alleges that his candidates have not been given nominations for the CMC. There is a huge conflict in the UNP. I don’ think they can come to a settlement for another five or ten years.

At present the Government is on a massive development drive in Colombo. Everybody is happy about the prevailing atmosphere in Colombo. This time the UNP will face their biggest defeat.

Q: The UNP is highlighting the same old issues such as corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency during their election campaign. Is there any truth in these allegations levelled by the UNP?

A: This is the same old slogan taken up by the UNP at the previous Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council and the Local Government elections.

When Sarath Fonseka was contesting the Presidential Election, the key theme of their election campaign was corruption and the Rajapaksa family. But the people did not accept these baseless allegations levelled by the Opposition and I think this is not a marketable commodity.

Q: The Opposition alleges the Government has not been able to restore law and order in Jaffna by highlighting the incidents like the ‘Grease Yaka’ saga which has taken place in Jaffna. Do you think this is an organised attempt by certain sections to intimidate the people in Jaffna and discredit the Government?

A: Definitely. This is a sabotage attempt made by certain elements to discredit the Government. There is no ‘Grease Yaka’ as claimed by certain sections. We won the war against terrorists. The Government wants to ensure democracy in the North and the East. The Government conducted Local Government elections in the North and the TNA won a majority of these Local Government bodies in the Jaffna peninsula. So that is not a big issue. After eradicating terrorism, all the people in Jaffna are rallying round the Government. Some pro-LTTE elements or somebody is behind these issues and they are attempting to destabilize the country by resorting to such activities.

Q: Do you think there is any foreign involvement to disrupt the peaceful environment that exists in the Northern province and the country as a whole?

A: I don’t think any foreign country is behind these incidents. Sometimes the Pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora may have a hand and maybe resorting to such type of incidents.

Q: Though the Emergency has been lifted, don’t you think certain laws are to be kept and new laws are to be brought in, to ensure national security and prevent terrorism raising its ugly head?

A: Some of the LTTE combatants are being rehabilitated. As soon as the Emergency is withdrawn, they cannot be released.

We have to rehabilitate and integrate them into society. Therefore certain laws are needed to ensure democracy in the country.

We achieved peace by making a lot of sacrifices. There shouldn’t be any room to sabotage the prevailing peaceful situation in the country. Therefore, certain laws are needed to maintain peace and democracy.