Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe briefing the sports officials and media at the Sports Ministry Auditorium yesterday. Sports Ministry Secretary K. Maheshan and Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando are also present.
(Pic courtesy Sports Ministry Media)
“We have to need a “Team Work” to uplift sports and Sports Ministry always draw guidelines according to Sports Law while my duty is very clear to act according to rules and regulations,” said Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe at the Sports Body officials meeting at the Sports Ministry Auditorium.
The Minister further said recently a new Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando was appointed after the Cabinet Approval and he is the best choice for this post after facing interviews from the special committee while two other officials next to Director General will join the Sports Ministry officials to make a new system. We wanted to get Sports Director General with a sports knowledge and finally we found that type of DG who was a former Navy senior administrator Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando with a vast knowledge of sports management.
The Sports Association officials must always work for their players and their respective sports development and not for their personal benefits. I must say most of the nominal Associations do not consider their duty and they are not even held their primary level activities and work only for votes. If the officials would do their work properly no need to give any gifts or money to get votes.
” We seriously pointed out clear Audit reports approved by the Government Auditor General (AG) has to submit before the elections and still some of the Associations couldn’t do that. Most of the Sports Bodies including Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) got ‘unqualified opinion’ for Audit Reports and that is very disappointing, added Sports Minister.
All Sports Bodies have to work under Government Law and that is equal to all and even the National Olympic Committee (NOC) has to work under our law said Sports Minister.
The officials have to work together and they have to get decisions early on and should get team approved at least two months before. Visa and Air Tickets also must be booked as early as possible. Recently we saw some sports bodies’ last minute work led to Visa and Air Tickets problems. Sometimes as the Sports Minister I had to speak to Ambassadors and Air Ticketing people to clear their visas and air tickets.
I never banned Rugby Association and it has done by previous Sports Minister and there were several issues for that ban. Former Rugby President made an appeal for this ban while he threatend Asian Rugby chief and then Asian Body banned us first. But former Rugby chief made appeal against the ban to protect his post and not to protect players and the game. How can I defend this type of officials,” said Sports Minister.
Meanwhile “Daily News” asked about sports Ministry approval for the ongoing LPL tournament and also reminded that the previous Sports Minister gave approval to it. The Minister pointed out there is a Law in Sport Act. All the Sports Bodies must take approval from the Sports Ministry to conduct International or the domestic tournaments and to get foreign players. LPL organisers did not get that approval and I did not participate the event, said Minister.
At the meantime Sri Lanka Tennis President pointed out they requested to get Ministry approval for the recent International tournament and even after the conclussion of the tournament he did not get a reply for the request letter. The Minister ordered officials to look into the matter and find out what happen to the request letter.
The Sports Minister further said Our President Ranil Wickremesinghe clearly said Sports Association officials to work hard for their players and their sports and they must try to find sponsors. Today we saw Sri Lanka Cricket give their support for our Sports Fund as well as other Sports Association activities. They gave money for Athletic and even the Netball players and we must appreciate this work, added Sports Minister.
The New Sports Director General Dr Shemal Fernando said there is a valuable Sports Administration course conducted by the International Olympic Committee available and top officials must follow this course to get good knowledge and NOC already conducted this course.
Dhammika Ratnaweera