Voters pull out of badminton election

Five voter organisations representing the Mercantile Badminton Association, Western, Northern, Southern and Eastern Provincial Associations and the Government Services, withdrew from casting their ballots at last Monday's disputed election of office-bearers of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA), a spokesman for the group told the Sunday Observer.

He said they pulled out in apparent protest over the manner in which the election was to be held following the withdrawal of Prof Ranjith de Silva, who challenged incumbent president Suraj Dandeniya who in turn was subsequently re-elected uncontested.

But Dandeniya, according to an election observer, could have won even with all the 51 votes in the fray.

The SLBA currently stands banned by the world governing body of the sport, the World Badminton Federation, which has declared it does not recognise Sri Lanka over government interference which is possible according to the country's Sports Law.

Until the SLBA conducts an election under the supervision of the World Badminton Federation and Sri Lanka changes its Law that enables the Sports Minister to interfere in the affairs of sport, the island's badminton players will not be allowed to contest the upcoming World Junior meet, the Asian Junior meet and next year's Olympic Games .