Cricketers should play for the country, not money - Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Honest and forthright, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage holds sway over his rivals in debate. His principled stand on controversial topics would have incurred the displeasure of his peers. Yet, he continues his tirade until he scores his point. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that under the UPFA Government, no politics would be entertained in sports. When the country has a Leader such as President Mahinda Rajapaksa who loves sports and extends full state patronage for the betterment of sports, it is time to invest in the field of sports. The sports Ministry will do its utmost to develop the sports sector.

The Minister said when world-renowned cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya were in the national team, they played for the country. Today most of our cricketers are playing for money. To certain cricketers money comes first, and country second. It is regrettable that if our players of the national team have a scheduled tour, some of them ignore it and play IPL matches. From this year, if our cricketers have to play for a scheduled tour, they will not be permitted to play for IPL matches. The Ministry will strictly enforce these guidelines from this year.

Minister Aluthgamage stressed the need to strictly enforce discipline in each sport in the future. Some senior cricketers of the national team have the mentality that they are the number one and the most prominent people in this country so that they don't care to listen to others. Through the Sports Medicine Unit, we hope to get down some foreign psychologists to improve the moral make-up of our cricketers. We should also have a system to control the unethical behaviour of cricketers as cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. At present, we have broken the monopoly in cricket and provided the opportunity for youngsters to come forward. We have introduced a new flagship program to win the Cricket World Cup to Sri Lanka by 2015.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: The Sri Lanka Cricket Board elections have become controversial, perhaps due to contestant Thilanga Sumathipala's credentials being questioned. What is the present position?

A: Thilanga Sumathipala and Upali Dharmadasa had presented their nominations to contest the Cricket Board elections. There were objections raised against Sumathipala by the Baduraliya Sports Club, Kegalle Sports Club and St. Sebastian Sports Club and two objections were also raised against Upali Dharmadasa alleging that both contestants had violated the Sports Law. I have appointed a three-member committee chaired by the Sports Ministry Secretary to look into the nominations of Thilanga Sumathipala and the committee handed over its report to me last Thursday. I have forwarded this committee report to the Attorney General for legal advice to see whether Sumathipala has violated the Sports Law in submitting his nominations to Cricket Board elections. The Ministry will announce its decision on receipt of Attorney General's advice. We also conducted an inquiry into Thilanga Sumathipala's nominations.

Q: The Sport Ministry's approval is a prerequisite for the contesting parties. It was reported that Upali Dharmadasa had not complied with this so far. Is there provision for covering approval? Could you explain the legal position?

A: According to the Sports Law, if those who contest the Sri Lanka Cricket Board elections have not played national level cricket and not held a post in the Cricket Board in two consecutive terms, he has to get the consent of the Sports Minister before he submits his nominations. Upali Dharmadasa has not obtained my consent. Therefore, most probably his nomination will be rejected.

Q: For certain cricketers bringing fame to the country is not as rewarding as the IPL matches because of its monetary gains. Is this a salutary feature to develop the game?

A: When world-renowned cricketers such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya were in the national team, they always played for the country. Now most of our cricketers are playing for money. Some cricketers are earning a very high income from cricket. To certain cricketers money comes first, the country second. Even some of our new players also take part in IPL matches. IPL matches have opened avenues to study the batting and bowling actions of our cricketers. This has adversely affected our cricket. It is regretted that when our cricketers have a scheduled tour play, some of our cricketers of the national team ignore it and play IPL matches. From this year, if our cricketers need to play for a scheduled tour, they will not be permitted to play for IPL matches. We would strictly enforce these guidelines from this year.

Q: Star cricketer Lasith Malinga's unethical behaviour has become the subject of criticism with many people condemning it outright. How is it that a cricketer with such a temperament was elected T 20 Vice captain?

A: When they receive colossal amounts of money, some cricketers don't know what to do with that money. I think it is more appropriate to seek the advice of some psychologists to develop the mentality of such cricketers. Some senior cricketers of the national team feel that they are the number one and the most prominent people in this country and they don't care to listen to others. Through the Sports Medicine Unit, we intend to bring some foreign psychologists to improve the moral make-up of our cricketers. We should have a system to control the unethical behaviour of cricketers. Today Lasith Malinga has forgotten his past. He has been warned not to repeat such behaviour in the future. There should be discipline in each sport. In future, we would strictly enforce discipline, because the cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka today. At present we have broken the monopoly in cricket by providing the opportunity to a large number of youngsters to come forward. Through a new sports culture, we have introduced a flagship program to win the cricket World Cup by Sri Lanka by 2015.

Q: The allegation that cricket has been politicised is a bad omen for its future success. Can cricket be divorced from politics and permit it to prosper independently?

A: I can assure, that after I assumed office, no political interference was permitted in sports. At times, problems may occur when politicians are elected to sports bodies. We should not forget politicians such as Gamini Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga who held high positions in cricket, and rendered a yeoman service for the uplift of the game. Therefore, it all depends on the quality of service rendered by those holding positions in sports bodies. Under the UPFA Government, no politics were entertained in sports. When the country has a Leader such as President Mahinda Rajapaksa who loves sports and extends full state patronage for the betterment of sports, it is time to invest in sports. The Ministry will do its utmost to develop the sports sector.

A very unfortunate incident occurred recently when cricketers of the national team refused to sign their annual contracts. Finally, the issue was settled and they agreed to sign the contract. The problem arose probably due to the Ministry deciding to reduce 78 percent of money paid for cricketers, to 68 percent. One of the former chairmen of the Cricket Board had haphazardly increased the allowance paid to cricketers by 25 percent. Other countries pay only 25 percent of the total income earned for their national players. At present, the total income from cricket has to be spent fully to maintain the national team. This has become the biggest problem in cricket. Even after 78 percent paid for the cricketers of national team had been reduced to 68 percent, each of the first eight senior players of the team will earn Rs.4 million per month, which is nearly 48 million per year. In addition, they also earn millions of rupees from the IPL and Premier Leagues matches.

Our people love cricket very much. But what has happened is that Cricket Board had not acted in the interests of cricket. It is only interested in how to contest the next Cricket Board elections. Of the total income earned by the Cricket Board, 95 percent is spent to maintain the national team and sports federations. Money is not spent to develop cricket. Each Cricket Board attempts to satisfy cricket clubs and give them a large amount of money so that they would vote for them at Cricket Board elections.

Q: Politicians holding positions in sports bodies is another dimension of politicisation. Why can't sports be made free of politics in the larger interests of the country?

A: When I introduced amendments to the Sports Law, I wanted to bring some amendments in this regard too. But MP Arjuna Ranatunga had filed a case in the Supreme Court and a court ruling had been given on this. Therefore, we can't prevent politicians entering sports bodies as the Supreme Court determination had been already given. There are merits and demerits of politicians holding positions in sports bodies. For example, some politicians such as Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera had played a significant role to promote volleyball. But certain people who hold positions hold sway in some sports federations. Among them are people who really love sports. But others have reached these positions to destroy the game of sports. However, I personally don't approve of politicians holding positions in sports bodies. We are now discussing with the Attorney General whether we can take legal action to bar politicians holding positions in sports bodies. If we can get it approved, another regulation will be gazetted and submitted to Parliament so that it will incorporated into the Sports Law.

Q: Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Dharsha and Sugath Thilakaratne were icons of a bygone era. Why was not a competent second rung of athletes trained to bring credit to the country?

A: At present we have come down to the forth position in South Asian Games. Earlier we won nearly 40 to 50 medals at the South Asian Games. During the recent past, this had dropped to 8 or 10. For the first time our athletes who participated in Asian Games returned to the country without winning a single medal. We could see the severe setback in sports. After I assumed office, I held extensive discussions with President Rajapaksa. The President as a Leader who love sports, formulated a flagship program for the betterment of sports. The Ministry has drawn up a four year plan. We have identified 1,250 athletes to be trained as competent athletes. Under this plan the Ministry will provide 12 days training to the athletes in their respective villages, 4 days training in their districts and two days training in Colombo. In addition, they will also be provided some allowance and other facilities by the Ministry.

Q: Compared to China, India, Japan and South Korea, we are groping in the dark in the context of the sports development. What has gone wrong with our sports and what corrective action will be taken to put it right?

A: Earlier we didn't have a national policy on sports. At present we have introduced a National Sports Policy and now we are working on it. Our sports regulations were more than 40 years old and amendments had not been introduced to the Sports Law to suit the modern day needs. Therefore, after a comprehensive study, I had presented new amendments to the existing Sports Law in Parliament recently. The Ministry has already implemented a national level program to develop infrastructure facilities for sports countrywide. We have planned to set up 9 International Sports Complexes in 9 provinces, 25 District Sports Complexes and 314 small grounds in each AGA division. The aim of the Ministry is to open new avenues to the athletes at village level to reach national level. The Ministry will also deploy coaches to train the athletes at village and district level. The Ministry has formulated a new Anti-Doping Act and this will be presented in Parliament shortly. This would provide the opportunity to take stern action against the athletes and coaches who use stimulants.

At present Sports Federations are not interested in sports. Instead of promoting sports, those who hold positions in federations have engaged in their business activities. If I take Cricket Board as an example, once a person who holds a high position in the Cricket Board imported sports gear. He comes to the Cricket Board in the morning and put out his sports gear. Later he checks the balance of his bank account and write the cheques and depart. Such persons do not want to develop cricket. He had come to the Cricket Board only to sell his sports gear. Such persons are also active in Badminton, Basketball and Soccer. Several persons who hold positions in these sports bodies are businessmen and they have their own companies to import sports gear. They always approve the sports gear which are imported by them. But according to the new regulations introduced to the Sports Law, whoever people elected to those positions will have to commit themselves to develop sports. Similarly, anybody who imports sports gear will not be allowed to contest the posts in sports federations.

Q: Would you like to elaborate on your Ministry's new culture of making everyone a sportsman rather than being complacent with medals, trophies and awards?

A: Actually this is a concept introduced by the Ministry on the directive of President Rajapaksa. The usual method adopted by the Sports Ministry was to run after medals. For the first time, the Ministry has talked about a sports culture and sports economy with the ultimate goal of making everyone a sportsman. The Ministry has also given priority to develop the sports in schools. From this year, it has been made compulsory on every student to do at least one sport.

The Ministry encourages both Government and private sector employees to engage in sports. The Ministry will also introduce some sports programs via television for housewives. At present one tenth of the country's population is suffering from diabetes. In our neighbouring country India, one third of the people are suffering from diabetes. Today most of our children don't engage in sports rather they are moving away from sports. Of the total number of students in the primary education sector, only five percent are doing sports.

In Australia, nearly 80 percent of the students in the primary education sector are engaged in sports. Therefore, the Ministry has formulated an attractive program to create a sports culture and make everyone a sportsman. We are also formulating a key program to make a significant contribution to the national economy through sports. Sports have become a viable economic power in most of the developed countries.

Q: Don't you think the UNHRC sessions have been deliberately planned to take punitive action against Sri Lanka for the alleged violation of fundamental rights when there are worst offenders who enjoy immunity against war crimes?

A: Actually this resolution has been based on personal grounds. It is mainly due to the bold moves taken by President Rajapaksa to eradicate the three decade old LTTE terrorism from Lankan soil. The Government has done much to implement LLRC recommendations. Still pro-LTTE diaspora is very active and it has not yet given up their dream of Eelam.

After the eradication of the LTTE, they are masquerading under a different guise to realise their goal. That is why they backed Sarath Fonseka at the last Presidential Election as the Common Opposition candidate. Some Western powers and pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora made a big fuss on the impeachment motion against former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. Some Western countries with the backing of Pro-LTTE diaspora are now planning to move a resolution against Sri Lanka at the current UNHRC sessions.

Q: The procedural American resolution is looked upon as intrusive and politicised by Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha. How do you view this scenario?

A: Definitely the US sponsored resolution seems to be very intrusive and politicised. The US Government and or its co-sponsors of the resolution are not concerned about the ongoing reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. They should assist a small country such as Sri Lanka which is recovering rapidly after decades old terrorism. The US and some other Western countries always bring up this kind of resolutions against developing countries such as Sri Lanka. But they don't bring any resolutions against powerful countries who have committed grave human rights violations.

Q: You are celebrating your 20th anniversary in politics. Would you like to recount the vicissitudes of your political career?

A: I am happy about my political career. As a politician , I have always fulfilled the responsibility entrusted upon me. I have done enough to my electorate and its people. Today Nawalapitiya is one of the most developed electorates in the country.

Q: You are a politician who calls a spade, a spade irrespective of any repercussions. Would you expect to maintain this stand in future as well?

A: I am always very outspoken. If I have to tell something, I always tell it directly irrespective of its repercussions. I am a very kind-hearted person who always maintains close interaction with the people. Therefore, I don't have any enemies in my political career or personal life.