Basnayake threatening to resign from NSF activities

By Namal Pathirage

Bandula Basnayake

“If the rains continue, the National Sports Festival to be held at the D.A. Rajapaksa Stadium in Beliatta on September 14, 15 and 16 will have to be postponed. This was the opinion of most officials attached to the Sports Ministry,” said Bandula Basnayake, non cabinet minister and entertainment affairs in a discussion with The Sunday Times.

Since the Sports Festival is to be held at President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s home town, a sum of Rs. 60 million has been allocated for the lavish sports event.

It is also learned that minister Bandula Basnayake is contemplating to resign from the organizing aspects to the Sports Festival as the requested budget has not been allocated to him.

However Sports Ministry officials maintain that the necessary funds have been handed over to the relevant committees.

The Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge to a question whether there were any discrepancy between him and Bandula Basnayake, said that there was no such thing between them but there were certain individuals who would like to sour things between them.

Gamini Lokuge went to the extent of saying that all problems regarding the approaching National Sports Festival will be discussed with President Rajapaksa on September 4 at Temple Trees.

Several sponsors too have come forward for the three day event.

Another tussle has cropped up between the secretaries in charge of the event in the Basnayake and Lokuge camps.