Ministry approval will be a thing of the past
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CWG 2018 achievers with the Prime Minister and senior officials at a felicitation ceremony held at the Temple Trees
Political interference and patronage in the selection of sports teams for overseas competition could be a thing of the past with Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe pushing for a new sports law where Ministerial approval will not be necessary.
This was the welcome news conveyed to Suresh Subramaniam, president of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka at a felicitation for the medalists at the Commonwealth Games at Temple Trees.
If the ginger cream cake served for the six medalists was yummy, then the icing on the cake for the sports delegation was the revelation by the Prime Minister that moves are being made to amend a section of the sports law where the Sports Ministry is involved in the selection process of athletes.
Traditionally, every sports team or athlete representing Sri Lanka overseas has to get the green light from the Minister of Sports. This has created an uncertain atmosphere with disgruntled parties – athletes and officials – not selected making separate representations to the Minister.
“There will be no ministerial interference in the future if this new law sees the light of day. It will be then left to the experts, those involved in the sports, to pick teams based on merit and form,” said an elated Subramaniam.
“The Minister of Sports made a suggestion to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister endorsed that the Sports Ministry should never be involved in selection and said steps would be taken to change the sports law,” Subramaniam disclosed.
“In fact, a draft bill was made back in 2002 or 2003 to change this law but unfortunately it could not be implemented as the government changed. The draft was written by a team of sports experts headed by Jagath Fernando and I remember it well as I also contributed to it,” Subramaniam said.
With Faiszer Musthapha retaining the portfolio of Sports Ministry in this week’s Cabinet reshuffle, all eyes will be on him as he takes steps to amend the sports law.
“The current minister a lawyer himself and he understands the subject matter and working with him will be much easier,” Subramaniam revealed.
There was further good news for the six medalists at the Commonwealth Games–boxers Anusha Kodituwakku, Thivanka Ranasinghe and Vidananage Bandara and weightlifters Indika Dissanayake, Chaturanga Lakmal and Dinusha Gomes who were all given land by the government.
“The Prime Minister has assured all the medal winners will get a plot of land so that they can build a house. In addition, the Prime Minister said that he would give land for the National Olympic Committee to build a headquarters so that it can house all the national federations in the country,” Subramaniam added.
Subramaniam was elected earlier this year on the mandate that he would provide a roof for all the federations some of which are operating from the residences of officials of the sport.
The six medal winners received a further windfall when the executive committee of National Olympic Committee decided to award cash grants. Silver medalist Indika Dissanayake will receive a grant of Rs. 150,000 while the five bronze medalists will get Rs. 100,000 each.