Eastern Province Karate-do Association holds election despite injunction order
An aggrieved party of 13 affiliates of the Eastern Province Karate-do Association (EPKA), had made a complaint against its regional body for conducting its election despite an injunction order issued by the Colombo District Court.
Following a petition from the 13 affiliated clubs of the EPKA, the Colombo District Magistrate, Sandun Withana issued an injunction order, but two days later a faction of the provincial body had conducted the withheld election at a private residence in Batticaloa. It is said that the elected office bearers were individuals close to its top officials according to the group that made the complaint.
The President of Sri Lanka Karate-do Association (SLKA), H.M. Sisira Kumara, its General Secretary Keerthi Kumara Basnayake and Treasurer Rohana Graceman are among the list of accused who were issued with the injunction order, instructing the EPKA election to be suspended, and they were ordered to appear in court on May 16.
While the election arrangements were made to hold the EPKA election, a representative of International Martial Arts Association Lanka, M. Iqbal had shared a soft copy of the injunction order via whatsapp to the SLKA President, but he had ignored the fact that such messages are illegitimate and proceeded with the event.
However out of the 30 affiliated clubs, only members of nine have made their presence, who are believed to be close allies of the SLKA President. Even the list of eligible affiliations with voting rights have not been made available, and the matter had been directed to the attention of the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports and the national body by the complainants.
Upon a complaint made at the Batticaloa police, Sisira Kumara was summoned to an inquiry, but he had arrived after holding the election, with the newly elected office bearers.