'Sports Mafia' tries to tarnish my image - Sports Minister

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament yesterday that certain elements in the 'Sports Mafia' have ganged up to tarnish his image due to steps taken by him to free sports from corruption.

The Minister who participated in the third reading debate on Budget 2014 under the financial head of the Sports Ministry said that he had to face some personal problems in his family life and those personal issues are being used by the 'Sports Mafia' to tarnish his image. Like others in the country, I too face personal problems.

Minister Aluthgamage said the Mafia in the football, cricket and the Olympic Committee have rallied round to hatch conspiracies to discredit his political career. The Minister noted that after he assumed office as the Sports Minister, he took initiatives to remove corrupt elements from sports field.

" I took stern action against corrupt officials and dealers in football, cricket and the National Olympic Committee. These corrupt elements have got together to tarnish my image," he said.

Responding to allegations levelled against him by the media on his properties, the Minister said that he does not entirely depend on the salary that he gets as a Parliamentarian and a Minister. None of the MPs have the ability to survive on their salaries alone. Most of them are engaged in other businesses as well. I also do the same thing.