Minister to stop talking in December

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has made a pledge that he will stop all discussions and debates and amend the Sports Law to fall in line with global requirements by December 31 this year, a date on which he said the country's sports controlling bodies will be free from political dictates and nepotism the two foremost factors that have led to mass scale corruption among sports administrators.

"I have started to amend the Sports Regulations after having two executive committee meetings. Apart from that, we hope to hold the last talking session within the next three weeks," said Minister Jayasekara.

According to Jayasekera's new formula, a nine-member high powered Tribunal will be set up with retired high court judges that will function independently to which sports organisations and officials can take their grievances for solutions.

Because of the current Sports Law which enables the government to intervene and even decide who runs sports in the country, Sri Lanka fell foul with global organisations which scorned on the island's manipulative and corrupt set-up.

Two examples of Sri Lanka ending up ostracised came by way of the local badminton and swimming associations banned by their respective world parent organisations.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is also under a government installed Interim administration but ironically to end corruption and nepotism.

The International Cricket Council has however raised concerns and Jayasekera assured he will ensure an election in January 2016 for SLC to have a voter installed set of office-bearers.

The Minister is however authorized to have his representative observe the conduct of elections of all sports organisations.

According to Jayasekera the Asian swimming administration will hold discussions, authorized by the world governing body FINA, with Sri Lankan officials to settle issues while the Badminton Federation will take up their matter with the Olympic Committee.