Six sports organisations in Olympic dilemma
Nishanthe Piyasena, the NOC Assistant Secretary is also facing the challenge
Six new, active sports associations are in a quandary as to how they would be billeted at the next National Olympic Association of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for January 9, 2018.
Now the contention centres on two associations — Fencing and Triathlon Associations. They were approved as full NOCSL members, because their names had been ratified by its Executive Committee, prior to 2013.
However, the present NOCSL Assistant Secretary Nishanthe Piyasena himself is a part of the quandary. His interest is in the Modern Pentathlon Federation of Sri Lanka and, according to him, there is a possibility it would be a ‘wallflower’ at the January 9 AGM.
According to Piyasena, the other Federations/Associations which face a similar dilemma are Sri Lanka Rugby, Sri Lanka Karate Do Federation, Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball/Softball Association, the National Roller Skating Association of Sri Lanka and the Winter Sports Association of Sri Lanka.
Piyasena explained, “The crux of the issue is that, the two present National Olympic Association custodians, President Hemasiri Fernando and Secretary Maxwell de Silva, are the only two active members of the NOCSL, while the rest of the members are dormant. As a result, none of the sports organised, that came for approval since 2013, has obtained its due recognition.”
“For instance, Sri Lanka Rugby has a huge following, but came under the NOCSL’s scrutiny after 2013, then the Modern Pentathlon Federation came into being, just shortly after the NOCSL closed its doors in 2013, while the others are relatively new. This does not mean they must not be recognised. For instance, early this year, there was a Lankan participant at an International Winter Sports event and thereafter, the participant also received some assistance from the IOC.”
However, the National Olympic authorities have promised to consider the matter at a meeting of its executive committee on November 24. But, Piyasena said he did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. He said, “The norm is for an organisation to be a full member of the NOCSL, with the membership being initially approved at the executive committee stage and then ratified at the general assembly. So, even if we get past the executive committee stage on November 24, the next general assembly of the NOCSL will be held only on January 9, 2018. This means the purpose is lost.”
Piyasena sees the only way these organisations could obtain recognition is to hold a Special General Meeting before January 9 and ratify their memberships, so that, they too could be treated as full members of the organisation, on time.
However, there is a possibility of things turning topsy-turvy. Now according to Nishanthe Piyasena the NOCSL Secretary General Maxwell de Silva has forwarded the draft that was passed by the general assembly on November 9 to the International Olympic Committee office.
At the same time Piyasena alleges that de Silva has made certain alterations to the passed daft while handing over the draft to the IOC, which the general assembly vehemently disapproves.
Piyasena says this is a blatant ruse to change the further proceedings of the November 24 executive committee meeting.