Who are the real rebels?
In response to an official media release issued by the Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) the President of Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) Suraj Dandeniya stated that he is not bothered about statements made by non-functional elements. Dandeniya said this while counteracting on the letter sent by the WPBA duly signed by its President L.R. Ariyananda in reply to a statement made by the SLBA chief.
WPBA alleges that they are subjected to ill-treatment by the politically motivated officials of SLBA. - Pix by Amila Gamage
The WPBA statement goes on to say: “It has been brought to the notice of WPBA that Mr. Suraj Dandeniya is giving statements to the printed and electronic media stating that there is no association under the name of WPBA, and the WPBA has not informed him regarding the conducting of the 40th Inter-Club Championship conducted by our association on December 7 and 8. We fully understand that Mr. Dandeniya is not aware of lots of things about Sri Lanka Badminton and its affiliates, since he came from nowhere, for the post of President of SLBA this year, with the blessings of the Minister of Sports. The WPBA is a constituted association affiliated to the SLBA, for over 40 years. Lot of national players are involved in conducting affairs of the WPBA. Our association wishes to reject this statement from the so called president of SLBA, and we wish to place the correct facts to the general public of Sri Lanka”.
Dandeniya, when inquired by the Sunday Times initially said that he cannot make statements about people, things or groups he doesn’t know.
“I actually cannot make statements about non-functional and destructive elements who do not allow badminton to grow. As a person I have better things to do in life, unlike those who go on fighting eternally to drag attention,” Dandeniya said.
Meanwhile Ariyananda relating his side of the story charged that Dandeniya is spearheading a hate campaign against the WPBA by blocking all access and passage to its activities. He added by saying that these type of activities, happening at a time when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has drawn an ultimatum on Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Sports, NOC and all sports governing bodies affiliated, will only push the country to further disgrace.
L.R. Ariyananda
“It is clear that Mr. Dandeniya has nothing else but a case of ego. In March he came to my residence and requested to support him at the AGM of SLBA which was to be held on April 23 then. Then he accepted the WPBA as a member of the SLBA at that AGM. I informed of our policy decision not to support non-badminton players although he had special permission from the Sports Minister to contest. After assuming duties as President of SLBA he convened couple of general committee meetings where WPBA too was invited. Then he accepted that WPBA was an affiliated association of SLBA and now he says that he is not aware of the existence of a WPBA. He must be having memory problems,” Ariyananda stated.
Dandeniya further elaborated by saying that the WPBA has failed to attend general committee meetings when the SLBA summoned during the recent months.
Suraj Dandeniya
“So is it unfair if I say that I do not know of a WPBA when they fail to attend general committee meetings, and be a part of development. Instead they opted shun all doors and run their own show. They are inactive, lack numbers and support. They have no better work other than complaining but I’m too involved with our development programmes and other activities,” Dandeniya added.
According to Ariyananda, who denies all allegations, Dandeniya is an ill-informed President who has other agendas to be fulfilled through the hierarchy position of SLBA. Ariyananda alleges that Dandeniya’s policy to shun WPBA was evident at its Inter-Club Championship, an event fixed in the 2013 calendar of SLBA.
“Once Mr. Dandeniya came to know the dates of our championship, he gave permission to a private club, which is not even affiliated to any of the provincial or a sectoral association to conduct an open championship with ranking status. His motive was to block players from participating at our championship, but he failed. We had over 600 players who represented 67 teams from Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha districts. Since his mission of sabotage failed he is furious and now he is misleading the public by giving dubious statements,” Ariyananda alleged while adding that Dandeniya has taken a new initiative to oppress those who oppose him.
The Sunday Times reliably learns that upon a complaint made by some of the former national players including Ariyananda and Professor Ranjith de Silva, the World Badminton Federation (BWF) has taken steps to appoint a three-member committee to probe on to matters that are ambiguous. In their complaint the former national players have brought to the notice of BWF of the alleged political interferences that took place during the AGM held in March. The complaint became a serious matter after the IOC issued the Ministry of Sports and the local NOC an ultimatum, with political interference on sports affair is becoming a serious issue. However Dandeniya claims that the BWF has already dismissed all these allegations and has accepted the elected body of SLBA as official.