Is AA heading for an Interim Committee?

by Chinthana Wasala

The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) which is in turmoil over the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) comments over their recently held elections and newly elected office bearers will be no doubt heading for an Interim Committee if they fail to resolve the problem which has risen as soon as possible, Sunday Observer learns.

The AASL election saga took a u-turn just four days ago when the sport's world governing body, officially denied recognition of AASL's new office bearers.

According to an email sent from IAAF to AASL, the world governing body had asked to have an election according to their constitution without political involvement as they do not recognize the concluded election as an independent one.

The matter has been taken into highest consideration by the new officials of the AASL while three of their members who are currently attending the 21st Asian Athletics Championships in Wuhan, China, including newly elected president Sugath Thilakaratne, had been summoned to an IAAF delegation meeting . During the meeting, the international delegation had explained the situation to the Lankan team.

The IAAF had said that they are unhappy with the laws which had been implemented by the Sports Ministry and the same had interfered with the autonomy of the national body.

The general election of the AASL was conducted under controversial provisions of the Sports Law and the subsequent regulations made on January 15, 2013 by the Sports Ministry.

accordingly, the former AASL officials including it president Genaral Palitha Fernando and General Secretary Prema Pinnawale were barred from running for another term while a number of other changes also took place, paving the way for incumbent president, former Asian Games gold medalist Sugath Thilakaratne and his camp.

The IAAF's suggestion is to hold an "Independent" election and thus AASL failing to do so will put country?s athletics in danger while IAAF will take a measure of banning the local body. If such a thing happens, Lankan athletes will not be able to represent the country during international events, including forthcoming IAAF World championship which will be held in two months time.

It is hard to predict that such change would take place immediately. A change of rules and regulations cannot be done overnight and to cope with the need of international bodies, Minister Dissanayake will have no other option except to dissolve the AASL office and to bring in an interim committee.

However, the AASL president Sugath Thialakaratne says that they are going to discuss with IAAF to resolve the issue.?

We should discuss and look what we can do with the present situation. We can?t put country?s athletics in danger with World Championship and world congress coming up in two months? said Thilakaratne during the Asian Athletics championship in Wuhan.