Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

by Lal Gunesekera

What action Mr. Wirithamulla on PSC request?

The former Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Ranugge, who is now with the Ministry of Science and Technology, had a habit of not submitting or taking action on certain documents.

One glaring example is the letter sent to Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga from the Public Service Commission (PSC) requesting that the recommendations of the Presidential Investigative Unit (PIU) which found eight Sports Ministry officials guilty of various malpractices be carried out. However this particular letter had not only been withheld by Ranugge, but no action taken at all for over six months.

After my column appeared last Sunday (December 25), the new Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, S. Wirithamulla, had held a discussion with the eight persons found guilty by the PIU, and I hope that necessary action will at least be taken by Wirithamulla, instead of being influenced by the persons concerned. He is supposed to be a strict disciplinarian and fine administrator, and I hope he will do his duty.

I understand that my column had been "doing the rounds" of the Ministry on the morning of December 26 and the Ministry staff was an agog.

I do not know what the outcome of this particular meeting between Secretary Wirithamulla and the eight accused will bring forth, but I trust that the PSC will follow-up on their letter that has now surfaced after many months.

The eight persons found guilty by the PIU for various serious malpractices are Milton Amarasinghe (Director-General), Derwin Perera (Deputy Director of Sports), M. R. K. Nadiweera (Deputy Director, Finance), D. K. Jayaratne (Administrative Officer), S. A. D. R. Senanayake (Chief Clerk, Nimal Chandrasiri (Stores Manager), V. Dayaratne (Coach) and K. K. S. K. S. Kannangara (Coach).

Probe on NOC continues

Meanwhile, the probe on the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka by the PIU continues, but I understand that the new Director-General of the PIU, former DIG of Police, Thilak Iddamalgoda, is being approached to try and shelve this investigation.

The former Director-General of the PIU, A. A. Wickremasinghe, started the investigation on the many allegations made against the NOC, including financial mismanagement, and I sincerely hope that Mr.Iddamalgoda will not be influenced to stop this investigation, but continue with it for the sake of sports in the country and expose the activities of those found guilty.

Unsigned letter

An unsigned letter by the former Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, S. Ranugge, addressed to the former Chairman of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA), Gamini Netticumara in October, has surfaced only now.

It was only with the resignation of the Chairman that the unsigned letter from Ranugge was submitted to the Deputy Directress in charge of Finance at the SNSCA.

The letter states not to deduct the rent for the official quarters of the SNSCA Director Cmdr (rtd) H.U. Silva.

Cmdr Silva, who is also the Secretary of the NOC, has been occupying these quarters since his appointment over 10 years ago and has not been paying rent, electricity and water bills. However in March of last year (2005), Netticumara, acting according the Establishments Code, took steps to deduct the rent (Rs. 2,000 per month) and also had electricity and water meters installed at the Director's quarters.

Now, the Deputy Directress, has queried why the letter from Ex Secretary Ranugge was unsigned and also why it was not submitted to the Chairman in October.

Interesting isn't it?

Any commissions?

Tenders were called to install a new Electronic Scoreboard at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The first lowest tender was not even considered, but the second lowest was accepted. Do you know who the tenderer was? Well, this influential person is none other than the building contracter brother of a former official of Minister Kumaratunga's staff in his electorate in Moratuwa.

There is another "catch" to the whole affair. This tenderer who won the contract is a buddy of the Director of the SNSCA.

Now do you get it? The Motto being followed seems to be "you scratch my back and I will scratch yours". Commissions too will surely follow.

No AGM only for SLC

The Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by Jayantha Dharmadasa of Nawaloka fame are set to continue in office for sometime more.

Minister Kumaratunga had informed one of his close confidantes to go ahead with annual general meetings in controlling bodies now headed by Interim Committees appointed by the Minister, except for SLC.

Why is this? It's high time that elected persons take office at SLC when the sport is at cross-roads at present.

Come, come Mr. Minister, please do not be vindictive.

New Chairman of SNSCA?

Minister Kumaratunga has nominated former Chairman of the SNSCA, Gamini Netticumare, to head this organisation once again, but the controversial Director of the SNSCA, Cmdr (rtd) H.U.Silva, is making every attempt to get another person of his choice (a former official of Minister Kumaratunga's staff) appointed instead.

He (Cmdr Silva) is wooing politicians, including a recently appointed MP, who is close to President Mahinda Rajapakse, to get his "man" appointed instead of Netticumara.

Everyone knows why this is. Don't you?

JVP speaks out

MPs of the JVP has spoken out recently when the votes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports were taken up in Parliament.

They had spoken against various matters, including voicing their disapproval about the affairs of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) with Minister Kumaratunga replying to say that he will "take necessary action"

When will this action be taken, particularly to withdraw the gazette notification amending Sports Law No. 23 of 1970s which permits the NOC duo (Hemasiri Fernando and Cmdr H.U. Silva) to continue in office? And if not why?

President to meet athletes

President Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to meet with 1200 athletes at the BMICH on January 7 (Saturday) to thrash out various problems that the athletes are facing. He was the former President of SLAA.

I also understand that the inquiry reports on the air ticket scam attached to the Asian Championships staged in South Korea plus the fiasco involved with the World Youth Championships in Morocco, is to be taken up for discussion at the next Exco meeting of the SLAA, which also comprises Namal, President Rajapakse's son who is a student at S.Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.

Continuing on athletics, I congratulate the newly elected President of the SLAA, Derwin Perera, in re-activating five pools (Elite, National, Junior, Under-15 and District) although it's going to cost about Rs 37 million a year and I wonder how the finances are going to be found.

There is to be 10 athletes in the Elite pool to be paid Rs. 20,000 per month, 100 in the National pool at Rs. 3000 per month, 1000 in the Junior pool drawing Rs. 1000 per month, 1000 in the Under-15 pool getting Rs. 500 per month and 1000 in the District pools drawing Rs. 500 per month. Also, a further sum of Rs. 21 million is needed for various meets (locally and internationally), coaches, technical officer (training) and development etc.

Four coaches were also appointed who will come under Yogananda Wijesundera. They are Sunil Gunawardene (sprints), Y.K. Kularatne (jumps), Brigadier (rtd) Parry Liyanage (middle and long distance running) and A.J. Rodrigo (throws)

I also understand that the contract of national coach, Lakshman de Alwis, expires end March and is not going to be extended. There is a "tiff" between De Alwis and SLAA chief Derwin Perera.

Susanthika for USA next month

Sri Lanka's bronze medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Susanthika Jayasinghe, has informed the SLAA that she intends leaving to Los Angeles, USA next month (February) to train with her coach Tony Campbell, who helped her to win the bronze in Sydney.

Jayasinghe is expected to run in various meets in the USA and then be invited to run in Grand Prix events. However, she has said that she will fly direct to Melbourne, Australia in March to join the Sri Lanka team for the Commonwealth Games.

She has received Rs. 5 lakhs from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and also an undisclosed sum from the President's Fund for her training in the USA. Susanthika was out of the scene for over 1 1/2 years due to a fractured shinbone, but has been involved in some "light" training sessions with her husband, Dhammika Nanda Kumara., for the past nine months or so.

She is facing breathing difficulties too and is on medication, but is determined to return to the track and be a success before she thinks of retiring after the next Olympic Games, if she is not injured again.

How come?

Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Devapriya, has invited all senior management staff that come under this Ministry for a discussion tomorrow (Monday) at 11.00 a.m. at the Ministry Premises. Some of the institutions that come under the purview of the Ministry is the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA), Department of Sports Development and Small Enterprises Development.

People in the calibre of Derwin Perera, Nandiweera, Chandana and even Dr. Geethanjan Mendis have not been invited, but how come the President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka, Hemasiri Fernando, has been invited for this confab.

What has the NOC got to do with the Ministry?

www.ceylincoproperties.com

| News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security |
| Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries | Junior Observer |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager