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Minister to take tough action against Susie's private masseur
By Channaka De Silva
Sport Minister Johnston Fernando plans to take the toughest possible action if sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe's private masseur Anura Bandara has indeed gone underground in France to live illegally there, but feels no precautions or laws could avert this continuing problem, unless there is a complete attitude change among Sri Lankans.

Bandara is attached to the medical unit of the Sports Ministry and accompanied the Sri Lanka team as Jayasinghe's masseur to the ninth world athletic championship held in Paris last week.

Bandara has failed to return to the country with the rest of the team, and the minister said he is still awaiting the tour manager's report to ascertain what had actually taken place. Bandara and the rest of the Sri Lankan team were issued Schengen visas valid till September 30 and Bandara's stay till his visa expires is legal. Interestingly the Schengen visa is not valid for France but for almost all European countries including Italy and Germany, the favourite destinations in the continent for illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka.

"He had to sign a bond as a government employee. If he has done harm to our country's good name it is already done. It is obvious to you and me no precaution can prevent this type of thing altogether. What we need is an attitude change. Till the Lankans shed their selfish motive and think of the good name of their country, there will be no remedy for this" the minister told The Sunday Times yesterday.

Minister also revealed that he is not happy with Sri Lanka's performance at the world championships, and said the services of a foreign coach is a must if Sri Lanka is to win athletic medals at the highest international level.

"I told athletic officials to get a top class foreign coach, and that the ministry would finance it. But they said it was not necessary and said there were enough qualified coaches here. Now they tell media that we need a foreign coach.

I am willing to support if they take that stance because I know all these problems in athletics stem from fierce private grudges among coaches. Officials also had told media that we need a foreign physio. I can tell them that it is not a physio they need but a qualified coach", the Minister said.

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