Parties indicate willingness to end CFSL debacle
The petitioners who has sought an enjoining order against the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) have indicated their willingness to withdraw the appeal on the term of respondents allowing the qualified members to contest at the election. This was related by legal representatives of the petitioners when the case was heard at the Court of Appeal in front of Judges Mohamed Laffar, the Acting Chief Judge of Court of Appeal and Sarath Dissanayake.
Sports Minister Sarath Kumara Gamage and Director General of Sports, Shemal Fernando have been named as respondents, whose legal representatives related to the court that they are agreeable to the possibility of allowing the qualified members of CFSL to contest at its elections.
Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General explained the court that day-to-day activities and operations of CFSL have been hampered by the constant delay of its elections and a suitable solution would be the ideal way-forward to put matters on the right track. Attorney at-Law Hijaz Hizbullah, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners explained that if his clients are been given the liberty to contest at the upcoming elections, the petitioners are willing to withdraw the case provided that the respondents produce written statement. The respondents have stated their willingness to entertain the condition brought up by the petitioners. After hearing the statements made by both parties, the Court of Appeal ordered to provide the written statement when the case is heard again on March 14.
Former officials of CFSL, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, K.P.P. Pathirana and Nimal Bulathsinhala, both representing Kurunegala District Cycling Association, filed the petition after their nominations were rejected by the election committee of CFSL.