My experience as business administrator helps me in administrating sports activities too - Kiran Atapattu

Kiran Atapattu is involved in sports administration as the Secretary to the two main sports associations in Sri Lanka. He holds the responsibility as the Secretary to the Sri Lanka Swimming Association and Sri Lanka Rugby Union. He is the only sports administrator who holds two secretary positions at two main sports associations in Sri Lanka.

Apart from being a sports administrator, he is also an award winning business personality. Here are the excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with him:

Q: You are an experienced and award-winning business personality. Do you think the business administration and sports go hand-in-hand?

A: Those are two different scopes. Those two do not go hand-in-hand. Yet, it depends on the individual’s ability to balance both the areas without getting confused and bogged in.

Q: Being a business administrator, don’t you find it difficult to serve as a secretary to two sports associations? You mentioned that sports and business administration are two different scopes?

A: Again I would say it depends on the individual. I am a business administrator and it means that I’m fit to be an administrator, may it be sports, business or whatever field. I have vast gamut of experience in administrative stream which requires a great deal of IQ and leadership qualities.

Secretariat position requires administrative qualities. If you look at my background as a successful business administrator, I am qualified to hold that position. No one can point finger at me that I am not qualified enough to hold secretariat position at two main sports associations. As a secretary I have to perform my duties as an administrator. Since administration is not all a new subject for me. I do not at all find it difficult to executive my duties in lawful manner.

Q: If you explain briefly of your task as a secretary to sports associations and what obstacles you have come across so far when carrying out your duties?

A: As a secretary, I have to implement regulations, which sometimes is a difficult job due to unnecessary interference of some people. Yet without being afraid of those pressures, I carry out my duties boldly according to law. I may not be popular among them since I strictly observe rules and regulations of the sports constitution. I have not yet met major obstacles as I work according to the law. There are unnecessary interference of parents which disturb my work. They need me to be biased on their children’s side which I’m never motivated to do. Though their child is not qualified, parent’s try to include their child in the national team by exerting various pressures to me. My policy is, if he child is capable and qualified, he would undoubtedly be placed in his due position.

Q: It is apparent that after you assumed duties as the secretary to swimming association, you brought swimming out of Colombo. How successful is that?

A: I take pride in telling that it is a great success. The President of the Aquatic Sports Interim Committee is Minister Maithreepala Sirisena who is a potent administrator. From the day, Minister Maithreepala Sirisena assumed duties as the Interim Committee, President tremendous developments of the aquatic sports field have been carried out. He pioneered in bringing swimming outstation. I am a proud contributor in the Minister Maithreepala Sirisena’s noble work. From the day we took over the administration, we acted upon Mahinda Chinthanaya project.

It is a fact to mention that all these years, before Minister Maithreepala Sirisena and myself came into the administration of swimming, only the elite of Colombo society were engaged in swimming as a sport. And the high attention was given only for the swimming clubs in Colombo. Only people who could afford were engaged in swimming and others’ talents were least recognised. That’s the weakness I point out of the previous administration.

Minister Mithreepala Srisena who is a proven leader found out that the facilities, priorities and favouration were limited within a particular society and set forth in spreading it islandwide. And it became huge success. We recognised outstation swimming clubs. We provided them with facilities and developed them to bring them on par with Colombo aquatic clubs. For example, so far we have been able to develop swimming clubs in Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Gampaha, Puttalam and Trincomalee. Those outstation people who are talented and interested in aquatic sports derive tremendous benefit out of this.

Q: Taking swimming outstations is a fulfilment of a long-felt need; and it is a national level programme which require a huge capital was it easy for you to meet financial requirement for that project?

A: It wasn’t easy as such. But we never gave up because we met financial obstacles. We stood by the adage. ‘If there’s a will, there’s a way’. We strongly needed to spread swimming outstation and at the same time we knew it’s not going to be an easy task. We were aware of the barriers which would fall before us in implementing this huge programme.

Either President Maithreepala Sirisena or myself, the Secretary were not disheartened. With the urge of fulfilling long-felt national, need we started collecting funds. We could achieve the target. At the beginning we collected 4 millions for the project.

There are incidents that some promised us with lumps of money for this programme yet did not offer a cent. We both were not discouraged yet, continued to be in the scene.

Q: Are outstation swimmers equally talented as Colombo swimmers? What’s your observation on that and do you think national level swimmers will be made from outstations?

A: yes of course! We do not have slightest doubt about their talents. They are not only equally talented as Colombo swimmers. There are more swimmers who are talented than the swimmers in Colombo.

All these years their talents were not recognised or, not given a proper place for them. So therefore those swimmers naturally developed an interior attitude that their talent is least recognised and how well they performed, it is of no great use. Due to this discrimination which prevailed years ago, some talented swimmers have given up the sport.

Due to our immense effort, so many top class swimmers were identified and brought to national level. And they brought glory to Sri Lanka in the international arena. For example a swimmer called Gihara Amarasinghe of Southalnds College, Galle took part in recent SAAF Games and won a silver medal.

Earlier outstation swimmers had less facility for regular training. Though they performed well at national level, their talent was not much spoken of or appreciated.

Now we have provided them with necessary facilities as for swimming clubs in Colombo and have given them their due recognition. So, we believe, in the years to come there will be a lot of outstation swimmers who would represent Sri Lank at the international tournaments.

Q: What development can be seen in the swimming after you assumed duties?

A: We picked up some talented swimmers from outstation and sent for further training in China. This is done for the first time in history.

With that training we can produce highly effective and competitive swimmers from Sri Lanka to international tournaments. Sri Lanka won highest number of medals in swimming at recent South Asian Games in comparison to other sports. It should be mentioned that during past years only coaches who belonged to Colombo clubs were exposed to international training.

It is after we assumed duties that we could send coaches from outstations for international training.

We gave high priority in recognising village talents. I must be thankful to Minister Maithreepala Sirisena for giving me a free hand in administration. I value the trust he has in me and never do things which would breach that trust.

Q: But there is an alligation that some sports authorities act biasly and do favourations for their own benefit. Can some one allege you for that charge?

A: Never any one can blame me that I have not been fair. I confirm you that. Personal agendas or conflicts of interest. I feel free to do the correct things. And I have done only what is correct and what is just.

I do not have any reason to be biased, in selection or whatever important decision taken. I never favour my Alma Mater. If the students are talented, they will be given the proper place. I implement things according to the law not beyond or out of that. Therefore I am not afraid to hold this positions.

Q: switching to rugby..... You’re the Secretary to Sri Lank Rugby Union as well. During your tenure, what developments can be seen in rugby?

A: For the first time in 100 years old rugby history, within one year we could bring Sri Lankan rugby team in top 5 in Asia. Sri Lankan team has been able to beat more advanced countries like Korea, Japan, Singapore and Kazakaztan as so on. That’s due to the high attention we paid to the players and their requirements.

All our plans were successful that we could bring Sri Lanka under 20 rugby team in No. 3 in Asia. For the first time in history they beated Korea last September.

Without help and guidance from President Mahinda Rajapaksa we would never be able achieve so much in rugby. He being the schooldays ruggerite feels the pulse of the sport.

He lifted the ban of 16 ruggerites which was imposed for 2 years. That helped in great deal in bringing Sri Lanka rugby team to No. 5 in Asia.

Q: What plans you have in store for further developing rugby?

A: We have achieved a high rank in the international arena and the most important thing is to maintain that.

Due recognition for players who deserve it should be given to uplift their morale. International exposure for players is vital. It is also necessary to provide Sri Lankan coaches with international training to serve the team with up-to-date techniques and strategies.

Well balanced mental conditions and good physique are the vital aspect of the sport. If the players do not lack above two conditions, their performance can be brought to the peak. So, our attention should be focused on that aspect as well.

Q: Most of the sports authorities are appointed by an election. And we can see a huge clamour among nominees to be elected to that illustrious position. Do those who fight for such positions really need to do some service to the sport or they merely want to enjoy the perks?

A: I think the reason is the latter. That’s why they fight and beg for votes. If you really want to do some service, you need not buy or canvass votes.

Q: You are in various fields such as business, sports and fashion. How can you find time for everything?

A: If you do your job correctly, it only requires you a less time. You may have ample time for everything including yourself.