Coup de grace in shooting sports in real military style
Shirantha Peiris, an individual with a successful track record in administrating and business management, has set a record in shooting Sports in Sri Lanka becoming the first civilian to be elected as President of the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSFSL). But until he took up the position, Peiris was totally unaware of the crown of thorns he has worn.
Shirantha Peiris -- aiming at new targets - Pic by M.D. Nissanka
Coming in with the sole intention of developing shooting sport in Sri Lanka, aiming medals at international level, at present Peiris is facing the daunting task of clearing the unforeseen hurdles he and his set of administrators are tasked at. Regrettably, majority of the hurdles are either ambushes or sabotages. But, resolute as he is always, Peiris does not wish to bow down easy and is ready to honour the mandate he won at the NSSFSL elections.
“It’s a sad situation. But when I have got a mandate with the majority of votes, why should I dishonour the shooting fraternity of Sri Lanka. I have a work plan which I wish to accomplish during the time of my tenure and nothing else,” pulled back more than a few steps, Peiris, a successful businessman himself told the Sunday Times.
The biggest ever setback or the sabotage Peiris, his set of administrators and the entire fraternity of shooting is countering at the moment, is the unavailability of a national shooting range. Not that the country did not have such a facility earlier, but what there was inside the Naval Base facility in Welisara, is now a forbidden place for the shooters. The shooting range in Welisara has all the necessary requirements to hold a fully fledged domestic or international competition in addition to providing a shooter the required facility to gear up for an international competition.
But the door of this facility was shut down on the local shooters, hampering the preparations for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in a few months. A man of pride and dignity, two aspects which he tries to adhere on rifle shooting and on to the local shooters, Peiris stepped up with a comprehensive remedy.
“There are major obstacles in line for us. We do not have a national range which is accessible to all. A shooter to excel and to develop themselves to a global standard, which is at high level today, we need to develop physical, technical and mental standards. These three aspects were not focused on earlier. The funds which came into the shooting federation were not channeled in this direction, which is the core purpose.
For the federation to excel, and the core objective is to acquire medals in the international arena, but we have moved away for that core objective all these years. Now we are making a conceited effort to put everything back on track, for that our main obstacle is a national range. We have the support from the present Minister of Sports in making the lifelong dream a reality. At the moment we are discussing with the Ministry of Sports on a proper location. We are waiting for the clearance for the Ministry of Sports to go ahead with the project which is really huge,” Peiris revealed.
Despite shackles Peiris and his band of men are still on with their comprehensive plan. Among the core areas Peiris is planning to focus on is based on development. They are more or less focused on school shooters, national potential and taking the game to the hearts of the public.
“All these years the NSSF was depending on the funds from Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC). We have the potential to promote this sport among public, given the fact that this is an independent establishment where there is commercial value and potential. One of the reasons for this sport to stagnate is that the public do not have the access to view the events and competitions. When the locations are inside high security property it is confined to a limited crowd. We need to break that barrier and change that pattern, where the general public could get involved with this sport,” Peiris pointed out adding further facts on how rifle shooting in Sri Lanka, solely run by the officials of Army, Navy and Air Force until his takeover, has been unable to make headway.
“Firstly their (the three armed forces) major fear is performance. If our plan is put into play, there will be sponsors and there will be enough funds for shooting and only for the development of this sport. If there is a second and third line developed, the main reason as they state security, comes out as another reason.
Never there have been reports earlier that equipments used for air rifle, a point 22 or a shot gun being used for criminal activities. It’s a non existing fear created by some. Who can play out the Police and the armed forces of Sri Lanka when there is a valid process to import equipments and its handling.
The equipments formally come through the Ministry of Defence and is strictly controlled by the clubs affiliated to the NSSF. There is a filter and spotting process. Our intention is to develop this sport to be a medal prospect in Sri Lanka, given the fact that we have all the talent and potential. At times you are compelled to break traditions to achieve certain goals,” he added.