Travails of a sport that produced a world champion
Hotel Galadari, the hosting venue of 5th World Carrom Championship held in Colombo in November 2012, is in line of suing the Carrom Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) according to reliable insiders. According to reliable information the CFSL still owes Hotel Galadari a sum of Rs. 700,000 after using the venue and its facilities. Hotel Galadari officials have constantly sent reminders to CFSL officials to settle the debt, but since the credit period lapsed by many months, the 5-star hotel in Colombo is looking at possibilities of seeking legal assistance.
“Hotel Galadari has all the rights to seek legal assistance because they are in the safe side. In this problem we (CFSL) are wholly to be blamed for not duly settling the dues. We held the World Championship, won a title but on the long run earned a bad name. We met the Minister of Sports to convey about our financial situation and his response was positive. But as a responsible sport governing body, we are also striving hard to raise funds,” the new chief of CFSL, Nandana Gunatilleke told the Sunday Times.
CFSL fell short by Rs. 700,000 from its overall budget of Rs. 7 million after hosting the World Carrom Championship in Colombo. - File pic
Ten months ago the CFSL officials were engaged in one of the cruelest tasks of their career, money-hunting. By October 21, 2012, the CFSL were still far behind, to be précised almost Rs. five million short of their budget to host the 5th World Carrom Championship in Colombo. The estimated budget of the event was Rs. seven million. The event now is history, with Nishantha Fernando winning the Men’s World Championship, but after ten months or so, the past have begun to haunt CFSL making Gunatilleke’s baptism, as a head of a sport governing body, fiery.
However for a person that has held top positions in the government, its ministries and a one-time Presidential candidate, Gunatilleke understands the real challenges ahead. He is resolute that money can find answers to all the problems faced by CFSL at present.
Besides their latest battle, the CFSL has been a fighting association, having lost its headquarters located at the Race Course, and being pushed to pay a monthly rental of closer to Rs. 50,000 in addition to other commitments. The CFSL may have achieved many goals, as
CFSL president Nandana Gunatileke
a sport, with a determined set of officials who voluntarily devote their time and sweat. But wholly as a sport CFSL have failed to attract potential benefactors. From another perspective, in a country where other sports such as cricket, rugby and motor sports enjoy the attention of the general public as well as the private sector, carrom has a lot to achieve.
“As far as I’m concerned the prime cause to all these problems faced by the CFSL is the lack of funds and sponsors. We have the talent in players and coaches and then again without funds how can the authorities expect them to engage in carrom without any returns. After all we live in a world where everything is becoming professional. So why not carrom. Individuals may come and go but the sport needs to have a common financial goal, for its growth and existence,” Gunatilleke, a former national player and junior national champion, stressed.
The present state and stride has left the CFSL with no other choice than to depend entirely on the funds provided by the Ministry of Sports. Gunatilleke, being a government official, understands that providing financial support to over 50 sports governing bodies from treasury funds is not an easy task. But he is of the view that the time has reached for carrom in to broaden its thinking pattern.
“We cannot rely on the governmental sector, the only savior are the private sector. We may have to get them to sponsor events and at the same time look at avenues to strengthen the CFSL kitty. In the future if we come across the same situation the CFSL should be at a strong position, financially, to face whatever problems positively. My main objective is to convert the CFSL into a strong sport entity of the island. We have discussed with several firms and as at present their responses are quite optimistic,” he stated.
As to the black mark CFSL added, earning the reputation of a debtor, in addition to being a financially unsecured governing body, Gunatilleke went on to say that his team is working hard to come out of this situation, before it deteriorates. So far they have managed to raise some funds.
“The truth is that we owe Galadari Hotel and we must settle this as fast as possible. Our delay may prompt them to take legal action. But we are working hard, with the support of our well wishers, to settle the matter before it leads to the next step. But this is a serious and common matter in carrom that should be given a permanent remedy,” asserted Gunatilleke.
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