Motto should be, country before self – Sports Minister

* Superpower in netball, badminton, athletics and Cricket in the Asian region

* Aim to participate in SA Games to be held in 2017

* Sri Lanka to be sports hub in Asia

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said it is unfortunate that some of our cricketers and rugby players only play for money forgetting their country. They don’t put the country before self. However, these cricketers and rugby players should be aware that they could earn money as they play for the country. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said it is unfortunate those who have come into the limelight because of the country today do freelance and play for money forgetting their motherland.

Unfortunately, it is not only cricket, if we go into other sports, players in the past always put country before self while money came second. Today, it is the other way around. This is a pathetic situation. This means they play only when they could rake in large sums of money. There is a Forward Tour Program (FTP) in the Cricket Board. If cricketers play for the FTP, the Ministry doesn’t mind if they play in any part of the world. The most important thing is that they should play for the country. The current trend is that most of our cricketers prefer to play for private tournaments where they could earn more.

Minister Aluthgamage said that when our team has to prepare for the Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan tour to commence on June 1, some of our players who played for the IPL returned to Sri Lanka on May 28. They will play without sufficient match practice. The Cricket Board should also be held responsible for this situation to some extent. They can’t put the entire blame on the cricketers. If this trend continues, the future of Sri Lankan cricket would be bleak. When the Delhi Daredevils was in a position to win the tournament, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen who played for the Delhi Daredevils went back to his country, 17 days before the end of the tournament. Australian players-Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Warner and Michael Hussey came for the IPL only at the end of their tour. These cricketers are a classic example to our cricketers.

The Minister said he has no intention to go for a big event like the Olympics at once and his aim was the South Asian (SA) Games to be held in 2017. He intends to compete with India and secure second place at the SA Games. The Minister is also confident that if he could carry forward the present program formulated by his Ministry, Sri Lanka would be able to secure first place in the Asian region in several sports such as netball, badminton, athletics and cricket within the next three or four years. Our prime target is to become the super power of these four sports in the Asian region in the near future.

The ultimate goal of the Ministry is to turn Sri Lanka into a sports hub in Asia as the country which is equipped with the required facilities to host sports events.

Q: With the London Olympics only a month away, how about preparations and what is the mentality of our team? Any good prospects in our team for a medal or very good achievement?

A: When compared with athletes who are participating in the Olympics, we are backward. At the moment, only four athletes have been selected for the Olympics one for Badminton, two for swimming and one for shooting. I think, we are still not in a position to compete in the Olympics and win competitions.

Q:What are your long-term plans to develop especially Athletics eyeing the next Olympics in Rio, Brazil and other coming events such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games?

A: When I assumed office there was a setback in the field of Sports. If Sri Lanka possesses a record of winning medals at the Olympics, Asian Games and 44 gold medals at the SA Games, we lost at the previous SAF, Asian and Olympics Games. Forty four gold medals obtained from one particular SA Game was reduced to 12 at the previous SAF games. We were not able to obtain even a single medal at the Asian Games.

Earlier 15 to 20 athletes who participated in the Olympic Games was reduced to four. This shows the setback we are faced with. I have no intention to compete in a big event like the Olympics. My aim is the SA Games to be held in 2017.

Our intention is to have compete with India and secure second place at the SAF Games.

Q: Recently we nearly lost the chance to host the Asian Junior Athletics meet. What happened? If you say certain people are responsible for this, what is the action being taken against them?

A: According to the information we received, two people in the Federation who wanted to be elected didn’t succeed. They have petitioned the World Athletic Federation saying that we have violated the Constitution. They have complained that the Ministry didn’t go for a secret vote. According to the Constitution, we have to have an open vote. I do not going behind this issue because we are involved in this event now.

My aim is that we compete at the Asian Junior Athletics meet to commence on June 12. As soon as we finished that, I have asked the Director General to appoint a committee to inquire into this.

If there is anything wrong, anybody can make a complaint. But these two persons have lodged false complaints to the international body. This is betraying the country not betraying sports. After the committee submits the report, they would be given maximum punishment under the Sports Act.

Q:Sri Lanka is hosting several high profile sports events these days including the Carlton Rugby and the Twenty20 World Championship in October. What is your comment on the impact of these events on Sri Lanka’s sports scene?

A: Not only these two events the Asian Netball Games will also be held this year. I think Carlton Rugby will be a tremendous tournament.

If we continue this event for another three years, it will turn into the world’s number one rugby tournament. Not a single country is organising this kind of rugby tournament, so this will be the best rugby tournament in the world. This year will be a good start for Carlton Rugby. Many New Zealand and England players have also come for this tournament. I think the matches T20 would also immensely benefit to boost the country’s image. Nearly 600 foreign journalists are scheduled to come to Sri Lanka to cover the T20 World Championship.

We have already formulated a program to educate them on Sri Lanka so that it would help them to give a strong signal to the world community on the importance of our country. Hosting this event in Sri Lanka would make a huge impact on the country’s economy and the tourism industry as well.

During the period of the recently concluded Sri Lanka vs England tournament, over 4000 tourists came to Sri Lanka from England. As a result, many hotel rooms were occupied. We need 15,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the tourists who come for the T 20 tournament. This event would directly help to boost the economy and project the country’s image in the international arena.

If our intention is to secure first place regarding sports in the Asian region, we have also planned to develop the infrastructure facilities in the sports sector by 2016. Because our ultimate goal is to turn Sri Lanka into a sports hub in Asia as a country which is well equipped with required facilities to host sports events.

Q: Did you intervene or have you been asked to intervene at any stage regarding the dispute between Rupavahini and MTV over the rights to broadcast the London Olympics?

A: There was nothing to interfere. What happened was Rupavahini spoke to me and got a comment. They said that they are the sole broadcasters of the Olympics, so I wished them. MTV also phoned me and said they have obtained broadcasting rights, so I wished them as well. If everybody can watch London the Olympics, that is only what I expect.

Q: Some SL cricketers have refused to sign new contracts with Sri Lanka Cricket? If so will you take tough action against them?

A: I have given that right to the Cricket Board. Unfortunately, it is not only cricket, if we go into the history of other sports, players in the past always put the country before self while money came second. Today it is the other way about. This is a pathetic situation. This means they play only when they could rake in large sums of money. The Board Control for Cricket has reached an agreement that if the cricketers don’t sign their contract it would take action against such cricketers. As the Sports Minister I would like to say it is unfortunate that most of our cricketers and rugby players only play for money forgetting the country. They don’t put the country before self. These cricketers and rugby players should be aware that they are able to reach this position after playing in the country. It is very unfortunate that after coming to the limelight today they take about freelance and play for money forgetting their motherland.

Q: Some national cricketers don’t put country before self and are interested in playing the IPL or similar lucrative events. Do you plan to ban them from international cricket altogether?

A: We don’t plan to ban them from international cricket. They have a right to do so. But there is a Forward Tour Program (FTP) in the Cricket Board. If cricketers play for the FTP, the Ministry doesn’t mind if they play in any part of the world.

The most important thing is that they should play for the country. The current trend is that most of our cricketers prefer to play for private tournaments where they could earn more. After their matches,the Australian cricketers came for the IPL. Even the most outstanding players in England and Australian teams who are leading in international ranking, always play for their country first. In a situation where the Delhi Daredevils was in a position to win the tournament, England cricketer Kevin Pietersen who played for the Delhi Daredevils went back to his country, 17 days before the end of the tournament. Australian cricketers - Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Warner and Michael Hussey came for the IPL only at the end of their tour. These cricketers are a classic example to our cricketers. When our team has to prepare for Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan tour to commence here on June 01, some of our players who played for the IPL returned to Sri Lanka on May 28. They will play the match without sufficient practice. But the Cricket Board should also be held responsible for this situation to some extent. They can’t put the entire blame on the players. If this trend continues, the future of Sri Lankan cricket would be bleak. Even some of our senior rugby players did not go for the Asian Five Nation Rugby Tournament.

Q: Some national cricketers skip Test cricket and only play ODIs and T20s which bring more money. If we allow this trend there won’t be any good cricketers to play Test cricket for the country. Your comments?

A: That is also not fair. There are some cricketers who can’t play for Test matches due to injuries. For example, cricketers like Lasith Malinga can’t play for test matches. But if this trend continues, it will become a problem. Then we will have to take stern action to ensure discipline of the Cricket Board. The Cricket Board is there to look into administration. If the cricketers attempt to do the administration, it will be a problem. The Cricket Board should be able to ensure discipline and carry out its task.

Q: What made you to present a National Sports Policy?

A: There is a national policy for any main subject in the country. Unfortunately, there was no such national policy on sports. The lack of a national policy has led to the collapse of the country’s sports sector. The Ministers who have held this portfolio have done what they wanted to do.

Then they may attempt to bring various amendments to the Sports Law. But when we formulated this National Sports Policy (NSP), we obtained the views of every section of society. We also informed all sports federations, athletes and journalists as well.

The NSP was also presented before the Parliament consultative committee. Even newspaper advertisements were published on the NSP. It took about one year to complete this process. Finally it was submitted to Cabinet. Because we understood, if this trend continues, the sports sector will collapse. I decided to formulate a national policy considering the future of sports.

Q: There are allegations against the manner in which the Ministry conducted elections of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL). Your comments?

A: There is a certain group who are responsible for destroying the country’s sports by creeping into various posts in the sports sector. At present, we are in the process of rectifying these errors and are appointing competent people to these posts. When these changes are made, certain people attempt to destroy the future of sports and athletes. What happened at the AASL election was that they wanted a secret vote.

Q: Does the International Association Athletic Federation (IAAF) recognise the current AASL ex co? If not our athletes will not be able to compete under the SL flag?

A: At the moment, there is an inquiry. But they banned this without having an inquiry. Even the International Federation and the Asian Federation also made a mistake. Anybody can mete out a fine after an inquiry. They can’t do anything without holding an inquiry. At the moment, we have sent them everything and they are going through all those details. I think within one or two days time, they will clear all these things.

Q: How soon would you take action against former athletic officials who tarnish the country’s image by making false complaints to the IAAF?

A: As soon as the ongoing investigation is completed.

Q: Now that the JVP is in disarray, don’t you think Sarath Fonseka could be the third force in the country’s politics?

A: I think Fonseka is not a ‘big’ character that we should speak of. The people will forget him in another three or four months. Fonseka who waged the war and Fonseka who does politics are two completely different characters. The people will realise this difference soon. Fonseka who conducted the war was a reputed character. But Fonseka who does politics is a completely different character and is willing to betray or destroy anybody to achieve his goal of grabbing power. Instead of turning the country’s third force, Sarath Fonseka’s party will be turned into a “three wheel” party which will be confined to three or four members. Reputed and intelligent politicians will not trail behind Sarath Fonseka.

A few UNP Parliamentarians who have committed various killings and have links with the underworld and few Army deserters are with Sarath Fonseka. Even when Fonseka was the Army Commander, his true nature and character would have been revealed to the public. It was Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who prevented it from happening.

After Fonseka entered into politics, he speaks about corruption in the Government. Before he uses these words, first he must produce his son-in-law before Courts and get him released from those charges.

Until Fonseka produces his son-in-law before courts and finds him not guilty, he has no moral right to speak about corruption.

During our history, so many powerful politicians quit the government. But none of them were successful.

It was the JVP which fulfilled a highest number of work on behalf of Fonseka. Today the JVP is criticising him. Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe has also resorted to the same thing. Fonseka was the Presidential candidate of the UNP. So this character will go into the country’s political dustbin very soon.

Q: There is a controversial issue of withdrawing army camps from the North. Fonseka too is reported to have supported it in his interview with “Sudar Oli”. Is it prudent to do so in the interests of national security and threats by the LTTE-rump?

A: Definitely not. That is what I said earlier also the difference between the two Fonsekas who waged the war and does politics now. If Fonseka was in the Army he will never say to withdraw Army camps in the North. But when he enters politics, gets political mileage from this issue. Fonseka may think when these Army camps are withdrawn, an environment will be created for the LTTE rump to recommence their terrorist activities so that the Government will have to wage another war against the LTTE. Then the Government will have to face difficulties once again.

When Sarath Fonseka was Jaffna Security Forces Commander during the regime of the former UNP Government, he refused to withdraw the Army even an inch when he was asked to withdraw troops once the UNP Government declared a ceasefire with the LTTE. This is Fonseka who does politics who is speaking. He attempts to portray both as being the same characters. But the people will realise about Fonseka who is in the national dress.

Q: On the question of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), the TNA is still on the fence, the UNP is now out to support it, but the JVP says no. How do you look at this situation?

A: I think the JVP will also make representation at the PSC. I saw recently in the newspapers that the JVP had said that if agenda is good that they will participate in the PSC. The TNA will definitely come because international pressure has been exerted to make attend the PSC. The PSC is the ideal forum which would pave the way to find a solution to the national question.

If President Mahinda Rajapaksa alone provided a solution, the Opposition parties would say that they were not consulted by making various allegations. Parliament is the ideal platform which is represented by all political parties.

The decision taken in Parliament would be the country’s decision. If any political party does not participate in the PSC deliberations, they cannot level allegations that the Government did not provide solutions to this problem. Even at international level, Opposition parties too have been a pressurised to participate in the PSC. That is why the President set up the PSC and invited all political parties to join the PSC. If the TNA has a genuine desire for the Tamil community, they should participate in the PSC.

If the JVP also love their motherland, they should come to the PSC without shouting on the streets.

Q: Your father was a Parliamentarian and you succeeded him. Do you intend grooming a family successor to take your place in politics?

A: Never. I think it’s enough and I may be the last to engage in politics from our family. It is not only my father, this is our fourth generation to engage in politics. My great grandfather, grandfather, my father, my three brothers and myself, were all engaged in politics.

I think the contribution made by my family for the country and the party over the past six decades is more than enough.