|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Keep politicians out of sport bodies and gun culture will stop! Unbelievable, but it's true! A gun-toting thug threatened an official of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) at its controversial annual general meeting at its headquarters recently. Though this official was so scared and afraid to cast his vote, he managed to get elected as one of the Vice-Presidents, but resigned later as he was threatened with death. He was from the camp that was opposing the team led by the Minister of Provincial Councils and Public Administration, Janaka Bandara Tennekoon. Even Police and Military Police personnel were seen within the vicinity of the SLAA building. For what purpose were they there? What has sports administration come to in Sri Lanka? I can remember some years back a gang wielding arms holding sway at yet another controversial annual general meeting-this time it was the Cricket Board, where Thilanga Sumathipala was being contested for the post of President by Clifford Ratwatte. Sumathipala won, but his election ended up in courts. This time it was at the athletic body. When is this all going to end? Shame. That's all I can say. Gun culture at sports meetings must stop, and one way to stop it is to bring in legislation in Parliament to keep politicians out from contesting for posts in controlling bodies of sports. I am certain that this suggestion will raise quite a few eyebrows, but it has to be done and now is the time. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga, and his advisers, please study the pros and cons of this suggestion and attempt to do something to halt this type of thuggery invading sports controlling bodies. Dissolving or suspending bodies and appointing Interim Committees is certainly not a cure. The Deputy Director of Sports of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Derwin Perera, himself who was contesting Minister J. B. Tennekoon for the post of SLAA President, has made a complaint to Minister Kumaratunga, and even three top athletes (Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tillekeratne and Rohan Pradeep Kumara) have made complaints about the conducting of the SLAA annual general meeting to President Kumaratunga, who in turn has ordered a probe into the allegations made. At one stage, it was going to be a three-cornered tussle for the post of SLAA President, but Ranjith Weerasena withdrew his nomination, and threw his weight behind Minister Tennekoon, who was also supported by the previous SLAA President, Sunil Jayaweera. Weerasena, it is learned, is to be appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SLAA. It is best that Minister Kumaratunga makes a full probe not only about the working of SLAA, but also probe the accounts of both the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), as both bodies get plenty of funds into their coffers from overseas. I will take my cap off to you Mr. Minister if you will do this and clear the air. Plenty have been written and spoken about the finances of these two bodies. Cricket-Aid in a fix What is going to happen to Cricket-Aid, a humanitarian project of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to help the children orphaned by the boxing day tsunami? It is in danger of collapsing due to the suspension of SLC by Minister Kumaratunga with international donors "thinking twice" before sending donations towards this project, which is headed by Thilanga Sumathipala. Over 500 kids in Galle, Matara, Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee come under SLC's foster parents project and the commissioning of a 50 house model village at Dickwella in July too is now doubtful. Management is not promotion The Sugathadasa Stadium Management Committee is now trying to dig their fingers into the promotion of certain sports like Archery, Basketball, Netball, Swimming and Volleyball. They say they want to get youngsters interested in these sports and identify talent, as they have the facilities. Please Mr. Gamini Netticumara, do not get involved in the promotion of sports. Leave it in the hands of the respective controlling bodies who are better equipped than you, and first attend to the repairs, renovations and replacements that are needed at both the Sugathadasa Outdoor and Indoor Stadiums. This management committee has also increased the rates to be charged when
hiring out its services, but I understand that Minister Kumaratunga has
requested the authorities concerned to reconsider the new rates to be
revised. The excuse trotted out by this committee is that the electricity
and water rates have increased. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
