Sports
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Day of Judgement!! We as a newspaper are not seeking the authority or the judging system of a given country to extend their welcome to a sportsman or a woman once they receive an invitation by a world recognized sporting body. What we are concerned about is whether such treatment being given those from Third World countries would become common place among the affluent societies? The story goes that the IAAF extended an invitation to the AAASL to send in two runners to take part in the half marathon which is scheduled to be held in Edmonton City Canada on October 1 – (yesterday) – a male and a female cum an official. In response the local authorities named Sri Lanka’s ace marathon runner Anuradha Indrajith Cooray from the Sri Lanka Army, Mallika Chandrakanthi from the Sri Lanka Police and Sports ministry official Lionel Perera ( Chandrakanthi’s coach) as the participants of this event. However once the visa applications were forwarded’ the Canadian High Commission returned the latter applications turning down Chandrakanthi and Lionel Perera. Then the AAA requested a visa to soldier – Captain Lal Jayawardena which too was refused by the Canadian authorities. Finally, for the first time in in the history of athletics, a participant left Sri Lanka’s shores to compete in an event abroad without a responsible officer. Chandrakanthi who was forced to stay back in Sri Lanka had just returned from China after taking part in a marathon held there and she also has participated in a marathon held in Ireland. Musings marched along to the AAA and met its senior vice president Sunil Jayaweera for his comments on the issue. The athletic official was almost in a frenzy. He said “I first blame the Canadian authorities for this situation. Both these persons who were refused visas are government officers and persons invited by the IAAF to take part in an international event organized by them. Once the IAAF invites and the respective authorities have sanctioned their credentials why should any country refuse entry visas? Secondly, I blame the IAAF. If they organize an international event and extend invitations to respective countries, then they must see to it that all respective athletes who are chosen get a fair chance of participating in the event? If not why extend invitations at all? It is true in Korea we faced a hiccup where three of our athletes went underground. However is it the first time athletes from any country have taken such a plunge? What about the Russian athletes who defected in one era and given safe haven in the West? It smacks of being snooty towards non affluent nations. How if it was her day and Mallika Chandrakanthi was to win the half marathon at Edmonton? How if the Olympic Games were held there and a section of the athletes were refused visas? Then what would have been the situation?” an angry Jayaweera said in conclusion. When Musings inquired from dejected and bemused Chandrakanthi about her predicament she said “I feel very depressed. This is the first time that this sort of thing has occurred. Prior to this I have been India and Singapore (twice), Hong Kong, Nepal, Ireland and China (one each). But on none of these occasions did we go for our visas. They were delivered to us. But this time we were taken to the High Commission by Mr. Prema Pinnawela, and on arrival he stood out and requested us to go in. Then subsequently when we went to collect our entry visas they had already stamped on our passports that the visas have been rejected and the reason was that they suspected us of not returning. Now there is a big question facing us. In the future when we go for a visa to another country will the earlier rejection be reckoned with and lead to unwarranted questions being asked? Meanwhile SSP Nihal Samarakone offered to give Rs. 1 million as guarantee on my behalf and that too was rejected by the High Commission. Just imagine the plight that I am in? However at the same time I also feel that there is an unseen hand behind all these happenings”. Probing further into the matter Musings learned about another development. Some well known people in the athletic circle blame the disgruntled section of the athletes for this situation. They say it may have been that this is a direct result of these people taking advantage of the situation that arose in Korea having sent a petition against Chandrakanthi and her coach, alleging that they are hoping to take the plunge once they set foot in Canada. So it is obvious that the Canadian authorities take a “play safe” attitude. From the last elections which ended in a terrible tangle the athletics in this country have been backtracking. It is a well known fact that A does not let B live in peace and B does everything possible to make A’s life a misery. Some of the scribes who were in Korea found the attitudes of some of the officials who mostly opted to stay in their rooms and play cards than getting into the fray and helping Sri Lanka’s cause hilarious. At the same time Sri Lanka’s sprint queen Damayanthi Dharsha who makes no bones about which side of the fraternity she belongs to made great play defending the three athletes who opted to tarnish the good name of the very country who brought them to that position by taking the plunge. She gave various reasons as to why they may have taken that option, but ultimately did it do any good to Sri Lanka’s cause? Now countries have started reacting against Sri Lankan athletes because of their act. Then how if Dharsha herself would become a victim of this vicious circle? Do these persons who are now engaged in the business of throat-cutting, back-stabbing and undermining think that they would be able sail their ships in smooth winds once they come to power? It’s hightime that Sri Lanka’s fighting factions grow up and start thinking like adults …. Or….. Children who have a better sense of reconciliation! If not it will be heyday for all countries who are hell-bent on marginalising developing countries like ours. |
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