Minister Dissanayake has a greater responsibility

Sports and Tourism Minister Navin Dissanayake was due to return home from Dubai yesterday after having discussions with officials of the International Cricket Conference (ICC) which has been unhappy over the appointment of an interim committee to run the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Minister Dissanayake has strongly defended his action and pointed out his sincere intension to investigate on corruption allegations against some members of the previous SLC Executive Committee which he had dismissed to install an interim administration under former Sri Lanka opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny.

Minister Dissanayake must soon iron out differences not only with the ICC but also with several other world sports bodies, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These international sports associations have shown their displeasure over the new regulations to the National Sports Law.

These issues should be sorted out soon and Minister Dissanayake has a greater responsibility in resurrecting Sri Lanka sport, which has not shown any notable achievements during the past couple of years. Apart from winning the T20 World Cup in cricket and that fluke gold medal at 2014 Asian Games in men’s T20 cricket, Sri Lanka has not been able to make its presence felt in the international sporting arena.

The biggest disappointment is track and field as we have failed to produce champion athletes after the retirements of Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Darsha, Sugath Tillakaratne and Sriyani Kulawansa many moons ago. Forget about finding equal replacements, but we have at least failed to find athletes who could run anywhere close to the timings of those elite athletes.

It is the same with almost all other sport although the officials who govern those National Sports Associations have been boasting on development and grooming next generation sportsman and women. Over the years, many sports officials have made a big noise on development activities but hardly anybody has come out with a successful recipe.

But when it comes to retaining their positions and holding office, they are the world beaters. One could well understand as to why some of these sports officials are showing an unprecedented interest in holding on to their positions at most of the national sports associations (NSAs). Moreover, when there was only a one-year term of election, the officials hardly had a time to concentrate on sports development as half of their terms were wasted on canvassing for next elections.

More time for development

Now that the term of all NSA officials have been extended to two years with a provision to make a full four-year period with a re-election after the first term in office, the officials have more time to concentrate on development.

The previous National Sports Council (NSC), headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, should be commended for that decision. But at the same time, the previous NSC made a big blunder by restricting office of an Ex-Co member to four years in any position.

However, Dr. Gunasekera says that that was not what they had originally meant and there had been an error in drafting that clause. According to him, any of the incumbent officials in NSAs are eligible to seek re-election this year as they have not completed four years under the new regulations.

According to Dr. Gunasekera, the implementation of the new regulations should be from the day those were gazetted. Since those new regulations were gazetted in early last year, the maximum any sports official could have served under that is less than two years and that make everybody eligible to contest for another term. But the Sports Ministry does not permit this under new regulations on Attorney General’s ruling.

The former Royal ruggerite turned consultant surgeon says that the new sports minister should have at least consulted him before implementing the new regulations which had disrupted most of the NSAs.

Change of regime at Sports Ministry

As we had stated before, the problem had initiated due to change of regimes in the Sports Ministry. Hence, it is Minister Dissanayake who has now been compelled to pay for others’ sins.

Even the new Chairman of the NSC, Retired Senior DIG Nimal Lewke has pointed out that restricting an official for four years is unfair, considering the fact that a vice president of a NSA who had completed two terms would never be able to become the President of that association. Had that rule been there in the past, neither Dr. Gunasekera nor Lewke would have become SLRFU Presidents.

The former STF Commander and ex-Sri Lanka national rugby coach is of the view that this rule should be applicable for anyone seeking a lower position than the post he had held and not for vice presidents contesting for presidency or an assistant secretary contesting for the post of secretary.

It is crystal clear that what Dr. Gunasekera’s committee had recommended has not been drafted properly at that time. Such a recommendation would never come from a person such as Dr. Gunasekera who had served as vice president for two terms before he became the SLRFU President. If the new regulations are going to stay, no NSA could groom an official to go up in the ladder because after two terms even as an Ex-Co member, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or even as Vice President makes them ineligible to contest for presidency.

Musica chairs

Since the new regulations makes seasoned and groomed official seeking a higher position in the Ex-Co, most NSAs will be compelled to accommodate inexperienced officials, mainly outsiders, to top positions. This does not sound well for the administration of any sport.

We are against officials doing ‘musical chairs’ and remain at those NSAs forever. But at the same time, young and emerging officials should be given an opportunity to go up, step by step without forcing a premature exit after two terms in the Ex-co.

Most importantly, these regulations do not comply with the general regulations of international sports federations and the IOC. That is precisely why the IOC and many other world federations, including FIFA and IAAF have rung alarm bells over the situation in Sri Lanka.

It is a relief that the Sports Ministry is working on the matter with the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC), headed by former Sri Lanka marksman Hemasiri Fernando. The NOC has raised 14 points under which the differences with the international sports law could be sorted out.

We earnestly hope that all relevant parties would sincerely work towards that goal, rather than brining in petty differences. There should be no room for personal differences or sports politics. All of them should put country before self and protect the image of Sri Lanka internationally.

If not, it will be the national sportsmen and women of our country who would suffer. They could miss a chance of competing under the lion flag.

A few genuine mistakes should not be enlarged to project as a huge issue and wash dirty linen in public. The Sports Ministry should work closely with the NOC to sort this issue and allow NSAs to elect office bearers. In keeping with international regulations.