Despite cold war between officials four swimmers to leave for FINA event
Two men and two women swimmers have been picked by the Selection Committee of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) to represent Sri Lanka at the forthcoming 18th Federation International De Nation Amateur (FINA) World Swimming Championship 2019 to be held in Korea from July 21 to 28.
Sri Lanka will be represented by Akalanka Peiris and Mathew Abeysinghe, who will compete in the Men’s events and Vinoli Kaluarachchi and Aniquah Gafoor, who will take to the waters in the Women’s events. The four names were submitted to the organisers of the World Water Sports Championship through the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
As of March 2018 to June 10, 2019 Kaluarachchi, with 657 FINA points followed by Gafoor, with 634 points were qualified for selection.
However, a dramatic turn of events took place as an e-mail to the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union by the former President of SLASU, stating all communication issued thus far by its Interim Committee is considered invalid, due to the non-recognition of the committee by FINA.
On the notification dated November 10, 2018, the Minister of Sports in pursuance of powers vested to him under section 32 (b) and 33 of the Sports Act No 25 of 1973, suspended the registration of SLASU with immediate – the national association of aquatic sports and appointed an Interim Committee of four members as a provisional arrangement to continue its activities.
It is understood that the former President had made use of the official e-mail address of the SLASU — office.slasu@gmail.com — to communicate with FINA and had submitted the names of Akalanka Peiris, Mathew Abeysinghe, Kimiko Rahim and Aniquah Gafoor as Sri Lanka representatives of the FINA championship.
It is a mystery how a team approved by the Sports Minister could be changed by a former President of a dissolved sports body using the official e-mail address of the association.
Aftermath the turn of events, swimmer Kaluarachchi filed a case in the Provincial High Court of the Western Province, seeking justice for her omission from the original squad.
It is also questionable on how ace swimmer Kimiko Rahim, who had not applied for selection, was included and the third ranked Gafoor’s name popped in ahead of No.2 ranked Kaluarachchi in the squad submitted to FINA by the former President.
The High Court in Colombo, later, issued an interim order against the former President and several others preventing from acting in violation of the decision Vinoli Kaluarachchi from participating at the World Swimming Championship. The court order was called on July 12 and was extended till July 18, due to the non-availability of both parties in the courts.
It is understood that the team submitted by the former President, will however leave the island to Korea on July 23.
When the Sunday Times contacted the former President of SLASU, Mahinda Liyanage, he stated that FINA will not recognise Interim Committee selections and his nomination as the FINA recognised official from Sri Lanka, will be accepted by the global body. He further went on to say that the team he submitted as official and will be recognised by FINA.
When questioned on why Kaluarachchi’s name was omitted from the squad, Liyanage went on to say that the swimmer had not achieved any notable performance in the years 2018 and 2019. Her last appearance was in April 2018 at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. He justified the inclusion of Rahim as being the Sri Lankan swimmer with highest FINA points.