The new committee of Sri Lanka Athletics Association (SLAA) faced a ‘side blow’ soon after being elected, when only one out of nine Olympic hopefuls managed to book a berth for the London Games. But the newly elected SLAA secretary, Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando, does not wish to take it as a big blow as they attempt to put the house in order.
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| Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando |
“Our athletes failing to qualify for the forthcoming Olympics are not a great setback for the new administration. The failure this time has many pieces. As a country it’s obvious that we feel dejected by this. If we look at the number of participants in the recent Olympics from Sri Lanka, the number has declined gradually and greatly. It’s a big setback but the show must go on. Our task as the new committee at present is not to hold post mortems or look for explanations for this setback. We know everybody did their best, as administrators and athletes. Our job as the new committee is to take this setback as a silver lining and put Sri Lanka athletics back on track,” Fernando (52) and experienced administrator told the Sunday Times.
Many controversies shrouded the scene behind the curtain before the elections of SLAA which handed over to an interim committee for nearly a month. But eventually Major General Daya Ratnayake and an able team including the young, experienced, both on and off the field, and seasoned campaigners were part of the new committee. But they took over office at a critical stage – when Sri Lankan athletes were unsuccessfully vying to qualify for the London Olympics and just weeks before Sri Lanka is to host the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Colombo.
According to Fernando, the new committee hardly had time to sit together and discuss on the future programmes or strategies. Instead they were seen in action on the filed organizing the 55th Junior National Athletic Meet barely a day after they officially took over the SLAA. Fernando added that the new committee is here on a mission to uplift the sport, not to pinpoint on areas that were missed, misused or overlooked, which they say they are well aware of.
“As a team we have a single vision. We have a good leader and a capable team. There is a constitution to any sport governing body in the world which the officials who get elected should adhere to. If it says a term expires in a year or two years officials should be bold enough to step down and give others the way. I don’t know why many in Sri Lanka try to stick to their posts by other means. Personally that’s not my way of doing things. If the constitution clearly says something we have to abide by them, which also is valid to me. I made a pledge openly soon after being elected that I will stand by the constitution and if it says that I should step down in one year, yes I’m ready to do it in the name of the sport. We are here to perform a task and that is our priority according to the structure.”
Big names, some of them world renowned, were seen in the list of competitors but not all were fortunate to win a place. Former athletes and present time greats in the likes of Susanthika Jayasinghe and Sugath Thillakaratne were among them competing for an administrative role. Jayasinghe was elected as one of six vice presidents while Thillakaratne narrowly missed a slot. Former top gun of SLAA, Sunil Jayaweera was one of elected officials while Fernando had to battle it out with a well known figure before being elected as the secretary.
“Ten years ago I thought the best age to serve as a secretary would be of the age between 40 and 45. I attempted but due to requests made by Mr. Prema Pinnawela I withdrew from contesting. It happened four times. But this time I thought it’s enough, Why I say that is when I’m in a position to give back or serve the sport I adore I should do it. Or else I should completely forget and give someone more eligible the place. I explained this and requested from Mr. Pinnawela to give me the opportunity to serve at this capacity. At first said he wouldn’t contest but later competed against me.”
Eventually Pinnawela withdrew from the contest and Fernando was elected. Fernando had been a well known figure in the SLAA since 1986, the year he was appointed the chairman of Sri Lanka Navy Athletics. He had served as a vice president for three continuous years since 2002 and was the secretary of the interim committee appointed by the then Sports Minister, Jeewan Kumaranatunga.
“I think interim committees will never help any sport at any given time. And as military officers it’s not fair to criticize or give undue judgments on the conducts of previous committees. I feel those who held office, from time to time have done their best possible for the sport. And it’s clear that there have been and will be ups and downs in athletics, from time to time. Regardless of the individuality many have done the best as officials and athletes. It’s glad to see the immense number of talent but then again we have to admit that there have been lapses from the administrative side in helping these athletes sustain in the arena. I hope we could overcome these lapses and look forward for medals at international stage,” the former national sprinter with 26 years of administrative experience at SLAA explained.
Fernando proudly states that athletic stalwarts Duncan White and Susanthika Jayasinghe have showed the world that Sri Lanka is capable of winning medals at Olympics. According to him it’s a credential for athletic in Sri Lanka despite temporary setbacks. Though Sri Lanka has got talents concealed throughout the island, the immediate task of the new SLAA officials will be to scout them and put them on the correct track. In addition they will need to act with a long term vision if Sri Lanka is to at least dream of more than the couple of Olympic medals they won or more international wins. Fernando explained that the new SLAA committee will sit together next week and discuss on their intended visions for the future which are based purely on the interest of the sport.
“We will hold the inaugural committee meeting according to the constitution on May 26. This meeting will take place in the nature of a special general meeting as we have invited three members from each club. This is to find out their views and proposals to uplift athletics in Sri Lanka. We have planned to conduct committee meetings on the last Saturday of each month and all are aware of it by now. We still haven’t figured out which role or committees to entrust on our committee members. At the first meeting all these matters will be discussed and put into place.
Those who get elected should leave aside their personal agendas and implement essential measures if we are to achieve goals. This strategy is common to any sport. Top positions at sports governing bodies should not be regarded as arsenal. We strongly think our team is strong and capable in this aspect. Our aim is appoint the ideal person for the role so we could put all blocks in place and put Sri Lanka athletics on the correct track.”
(Pix by Amila Prabodha) |
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