New ideas and amendments needed for Sports Act

by Lal Gunesekera

SPORTS: The Sports Act brought in by the late K. B. Ratnayake when he was the Minister of Sports is farely old now and we have to basically look into it and bring about changes, Some years back, when Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister, he appointed Jagath Fernando, and the latter even sent his suggestions to the Legal Draughtsman to have a Sports Authority. The suggestions was done, but it fell apart.

This was one of the many candid statements made by the new Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, a senior Consultant Surgeon, who was a former President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), former chief national selector SLRFU and former President of the CR & FC. He served in the Council of the SLRFU for several years and even in the National Sports Council.

Dr. Gunasekera, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer said that former Chairman of the NSC, Saman Amarasinghe, had also "done some good work", but his suggestions too had "fallen apart".

He (Dr. Gunasekera) has told the present Minister of Sports and Public Recreations, Gamini Lokuge, that what has to be done is to put new ideas into action and bring in new amendments to the Sports Act.

He was of the opinion that a Sports Authority must be made like in other countries, and he said that Minister Gamini Lokuge was keen on a new policy and what sport should be supported and to what extent. Minister Lokuge was keen on supporting athletics.

Dr. Gunasekera also said that Minister Lokuge was also keen on starting three pilot projects to set up Sports Schools in Piliyandala, Galle and Madampe and later enlarge them to cover the Central and Eastern Provinces as well. This will bring talented athletes to one place and given an education too, apart from the training aspects.

He said that the National Sports Council (NSC) felt that sports must be really supported by the government - sports that could be successful in the international arena, be it at an individual or team level. Athletics have better prospects and these have to be sorted out and helped financially.

Dr. Gunasekera said that he was "against" each and every team going overseas for various tournaments etc. and that the Ministry of Sports together with the NSC must draw up a clear-cut policy on this particular matter. He said: "People go on joy rides not to bring honour to their country."

Dr. Maiya also said that Minister Lokuge was very keen on regularising the voting systems for various controlling bodies at annual general meetings and pointed out the unfair voting system of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) in particular. Dr. Gunasekera said he was very keen on putting up an effective plan into action and that the NSC "must do something concrete."

Dr. Gunasekera also has an idea to appoint sub committees to suggest ways and means of constructing a sports Hostel in Colombo with basic facilities, including accommodation for about 250 persons, instead of staying at Temples and Churches when they come down to Colombo for various sporting events. He also revealed that the Ministry of Sports plans to construct more stadiums in the country, but this was yet "on the pipeline".

The top administrator that he is, Dr. Gunasekera, also commented that the NSC should not get themselves involved in "every stupid complaint" made to the NSC particularly by disgruntled persons and that a time frame be given to controlling bodies to bring in constitutional amendments, particularly for infrastructure development and new proper systems.

"I will see to it that there will be no injustice done to any sportsman/woman or club/controlling body. I am also keen that the Sports Ministry and their Sports Department be amalgamated. We will have an agenda, set tasks and get things done soon" said Dr. Gunasekera.

Dr. Gunasekera also disclosed that Minister Lokuge has given the NSC a separate room at Torrington Square to meet for which they (the NSC) never possessed earlier and will be run in a professional manner with meetings held at least once a month.