Islandwide shut down on shotgun ranges
Shotgun Ranges throughout Sri Lanka have been forced to shut down by a surprising, ‘Very Urgent’ circular issued by the Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, hampering preparations of Shooters bound for international events, as well as domestic competitions run by the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF).
The Payagala shotgun range is the only such facility available in Sri Lanka
The NSSF, affiliated to the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), is the governing body in Sri Lanka for Shooting sports, which is an Olympic sport. But to the surprise of many in the Shooting fraternity as well as the Ministry of Sports (MoS), under which the NSSF directly comes, the circular has been issued by a former President of NSSF, and a long time President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), who was elevated to the position of Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
“It came as a surprise to the NSSF Shooting community, when the MoD handed over a letter to the NSSF Secretary on March 19, which stated that the Shotgun Shooting Ranges in Sri Lanka, for training and competition, have been prohibited from future use. There was no valid reason stated in the letter, dated March 6, but it eventually, reached us 13 days later, though it had the ‘Very Urgent’ tag on top,” an irate and dejected NSSF President Shirantha Peries, said at a press conference.
The ban has affected the Shooting Sport activities of Clubs from Negombo, Kandy, Gampaha and Payagala, which is the only Clay target Shotgun affiliated to the NSSF. The other Ranges, despite having affiliations with the NSSF, are also members of the National Shooting Association, a non-Olympic Shooting Sport entity.
The National Clay Target Shotgun Range at Payagala, run by the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo, is the only facility in Sri Lanka which can hold training sessions and competitions of the Olympic medal sport. The Range in Payagala has been in existence since 2008, even through the 3-decade long ethnic war, and was declared open by the then MoS, Gamini Lokuge. Surprisingly, this range is a haven for Clay target Shooters, mainly from the Armed Forces.
“This is a crime and an act directly stalling the progress of the NSSF. Since this Committee took over in 2015, becoming the first civilian group to govern the Federation, we, as a team, and as a country as a whole, have achieved much. By this time there are 8 National records established, while one of our officials was appointed the Chief Referee at the recently concluded Word Cup. The NSSF has managed to elevate the level of skills of Shooters through comprehensive training programmes, while providing facilities that match international standards. By today, the shooting sports has expanded tremendously, with over 7,250 schoolchildren engaged in the sport. What else do they expect by this ban?” queried Peries.
Days prior to issuing the circular banning Ranges, the Defence Secretary abruptly withdrew approval for the direct import of ammunition such as 22 Standard Velocity and 24 grams Shotgun Ammunition, 177 Air Rifle Pellets, and given the authority to the Navy CEFAP Unit to import directly.
NSSF President Shirantha Peries
“This move has pushed the ammunition cost by 60%. And not all shooters can afford to meet that cost, with the rate of what is happening around to push the NSSF activities to the gutters,” he added.
Interestingly, it is an open secret among the local Sports fraternity that, the former President of the NSSF and NOC, Hemasiri Fernando, who is the present Defence Secretary, is allegedly involved in these sudden moves and obstacles created against the present NSSF. According to records and history, the battle between the present Defence Secretary and the NSSF began in 2015, when the MoS called for elections, to move from an Interim Committee to a democratically elected body. At the elections, Shirantha Peries won by 7 nominations as against 2 received by Hemasiri Fernando, who later withdrew his nomination.
“I really do not have any idea if these sudden moves are connected to the past. I later went on to contest as the Treasurer for the NOC last year, with the team led by Rohan Fernando. I really have no idea if it has any connection to this either, or probably both. But, as the NSSF directly comes under the MoS, we have promptly notified the MoS, as well as other authorities concerned, and also the President of the country, of the debacle we are pushed into. I sincerely hope there will be justice and fair play and that, the truth will prevail,” Peries explained.
In addition to the unexpected strike on the NSSF, news reports have appeared stating that the now-banned Ranges were ‘training grounds’ for members of the underworld, which was vehemently rubbished by the NSSF officials. Representing the MoS, the Project Officer for Shooting Sports, Gamini Costa, made his presence along with members of affiliated Clubs where Ranges have been banned. As a result of this sudden development and lack of training facilities, the 2 Shotgun Shooters representing Sri Lanka at the ISSF World Cup Qualifying Competition in the UAE, have failed to reach their usual standards. The 3rd Shooter, who is based in Australia and trained prior to the competition, managed to perform fairly well.
“It is learned that the Defence Secretary is hurriedly building a Shotgun Range at the Navy complex in Welisara. Why build another which prevents easy access, while there is already one in existence with all facilities and total accountability. This is a puzzle,” outlined a dejected NSSF member, who wished to remain anonymous.