The two wins saw Sri Lanka move to the top of the Under 18 and Under 20 Asian rugby rankings in the elite division.

Pictures show MJM Mushtaq coach of the Sri Lanka Under 18 team and captain Naveen Heenkankanamge receiving a cheque for Rs. 1.5 million from President Maithripala Sirisena and (below) Sri Lanka Under 20 team coach Sudath Sampath and captain Kevin Dixon receiving a cheque for Rs. 1,525,000 from President Sirisena (top). WAI

While Sumathipala is contesting for the post of president, Dharmadasa is contesting for one of the two vice-presidency slots. K Mathivanan, a former vice-president is contesting again for the same post.

Mohan de Silva (secretary), Shammi Silva (treasurer) and Ravin Wickramaratne (assistant secretary) are the others contesting for positions.

The post of assistant treasurer is to be filled later.

Chairing a media conference at the SSC pavilion yesterday to announce their nominations for the elections Sumathipala and his team revealed a six-point plan they hope to implement if they are elected to office on January 4. Nominations close today.

Spelling out the plan Sumathipala, a three-time former president of SLC and presently deputy speaker of Parliament said that they had categorised six main pillars which they hope to transform Sri Lanka Cricket:

International Cricket
Domestic Cricket
Development
Administration
Finance, and
Communication

“It is a four-year plan which we hope to implement and complete by 2020. Sri Lanka Cricket needs a big transformation and we have come in partnership so that cricket will be the ultimate beneficiary,” said Sumathipala. “We have a very good team and we have a quality team of people that includes three past presidents in Jayantha Dharmadasa, Mohan de Silva and myself along with people who have served Sri Lanka cricket in the past.

Sumathipala stated that he plans to have a strong financial advisory committee with a number of reputed qualified people and hopes to use the experience of Nuski Mohamed, a past secretary and treasurer to head this committee.

He also revealed that they were bringing in Thushan Amarasuriya, son of former SLC interim chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya as a member of the sponsorship committee. “Thushan is a former cricket captain of Royal College and is presently the treasurer of MCA. He comes from good stock,” said Sumathipala.

The former president said that two former Sri Lanka captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara would be given big roles to play.

“They are two of the most recent players involved in the current trend of international cricket. We should make maximum use of their experience and expertise in this field,” Sumathipala said.

Stating reasons for coming forward to contest the elections Sumathipala stated, “First and foremost there is an interim regime at the moment. Time and time again there have been allegations against various people at various times for the past 20 years and for about 8-9 years Sri Lanka Cricket has been run by interim committees and democratically elected bodies have come in.

“When the membership approached me and wanted me to come and put the house in order, I spoke to the people who mattered and important for the game. When I discussed with the people especially past presidents and administrators, past cricketers and stake holders they wanted me to lead this side and assured me they would give me the support to put the house in order. That’s why I decided to hand over my nominations today.”

Twice before Sumathipala had tried to contest the presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket and failed.

“Once former president Mahinda Rajapaksa asked me not to contest at the eleventh hour so I did not give my nominations,” said Sumathipala.

“The other occasion when I wanted to contest they said my wife was involved with a sports good company. However she resigned but her resignation stamp duty was accepted two days after I had given my nomination.

“They used that technical point and refused me permission to contest during Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s time. You can very clearly see they have taken a very thin line to stop me from contesting. I don’t think it was a valid reason and a reason was not given,” he said.

Sumathipala said that he had the blessings of President Maithripala Sirisena to come forward and contest the election for the SLC presidency and that he had no issues related to the gambling industry as he has a letter from the ICC clearing him of any misdemeanor.

Balares SC beat Rantharu SC from Debagama in Kegalle 3-0 to bag the men’s crown while Vijaya SC, Koswadiya beat Golden Birds SC from Radawana 3-2 in an evenly contested women’s final.

Golden Birds SC Radawana secured the third place in the men’s category and Kapila SC of Siyambalagoda won third place in the women’s category

Organized by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and powered by Dialog Axiata, the tournament saw around 4000 teams participating in the preliminary rounds conducted over a period of six months. Teams from over 300 Grama Seva divisions including the North and East were elevated to the District level before reaching the national finals.

President Maithripala Sirisena declared open the new Indoor Volleyball court at a ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries including Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, City Planning and Water Supply State Minister and Consultant Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Parliamentarian Dilan Perera, Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Officer Hans Wijayasuriya and Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency, Dr Seevali Jayawickrama addressing the media yesterday said it has been organized with the objective of enlightening the sports community and the general public over the adverse effects of doping related to sports. The walk will start at 6.30 am from the premises opposite the National Art Gallery, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7
The event will be graced by the presence of President Maithripala Sirisena as the chief guest and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the guest of honour.

Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera, Deputy Minister of Sports H.M.M Haris, senior cabinet Ministers and other high ranking administrative officials representing the sports fraternity also will attend the occasion.

In addition, thousands of participants representing National sports federation, members of National Olympic committee, National Paralympics committee, the three armed forces, Police, National Youth Services Council and students from government national, private and international schools are expected to participate in the event.

Reports said that the necessary prior approval of the entire IC membership has not been obtained to hand over these files to a certain individual who is neither a member of the SLC Interim Committee nor its Sponsorship Committee. For that matter, the person who has taken away the three key sponsorship files is not even an employee of the SLC, but the brother of former Performance Digital Analyst of SLC.

The motive behind the removal of those files under the blessings of a top SLC official is anybody’s guess. Undoubtedly, the confidentiality clauses and disclosure agreements have now been made available to interested parties in an unhealthy manner.

The individual who had taken away those files is a person who frequently bids for open tenders called by the SLC. Having failed recently in his bid to secure the sponsorship rights for a digital recording contract, this person had sought the blessings of a top SLC official to gather confidential information in three separate files identified in the news reports as those pertaining to SLC agreements with MAS Holdings, Red Bull and Agile.

Neither the SLC nor the three sponsors have denied the controversial news reports although the e-Mail correspondence on the matter among top SLC officials has become public. Surprisingly, a top SLC official had said that there is nothing wrong in handing over those files to an outsider or a third party attending a sponsorship discussion as far as he or she is invited for such a meeting.

A former SLC Secretary and present Interim Committee member who had served in the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake era, had strongly objected to these moves. In his e-Mail to the senior most SLC officials, the veteran official had strongly opposed the release of these files to an outsider. “For one thing, it is irregular and he holds no status in the organisation and this would create precedence. I am unable to take responsibility for such release of files in the event something untoward should happen,” he hadtold fellow SLC Interim Committee members in an e-Mail.

“In my view I cannot take responsibility for the release of any files to outsiders unless Interim Committee and Sponsorship Committee approval is obtained for very good and substantiated reasons,” he adds. He had alleged that the person who had taken away the files is involved with a tender by one of the three sponsors, making matters worse.

Sidath, a gentleman cricketer

Many consider Chairman of the SLC Interim Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny a gentleman and a clean person. If such notorious acts are taking place at the SLC with or without Wettmuny’s knowledge, it would seriously affect the reputation of the former Sri Lanka opener.

Hence, he should keep a vigil eye on officials who try to make super fortunes out of raw deals. If some mischievous things had taken place even without Wettimuny’s blessings, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera should order an immediate investigation as the Interim Committee is only answerable to the Sports Minister who had appointed them.

That is precisely why we have rejected interim committees time and again.

Instead, we advocate an elected Executive Committees to run affairs of all National Sports Associations (NSAs). When a NSA is run by an elected, Executive Committee, those officials are answerable to the member clubs, associations and affiliated bodies who had voted them. But it is not the same scenario when it comes to interim committees.

As I have stated before in these columns, Interim Committees should not become permanent administrations of NSAs. Of course, the Sports Ministerhas every right to dissolve even an elected Ex-Co if he finds something fishy. In such cases, the Sports Minister is empowered by the National Sports Act to dissolve a NSA and replace it with an interim administration.

But such interim committee should only be there for a short period.During such period, the Sports Minister could hold an impartialinvestigation to the conduct of the dissolved or suspended Ex-Co. If the allegations are not proved beyond reasonable doubt, the Sports Minister could either reinstate a suspended Ex-Co or call for fresh elections tothat NSA under the Sports Ministry patronage.

Whatever it may be, an interim committee should not be there for a longer period, undermining the rights and aspirations of that NSA’s member clubs, associations and affiliated bodies. No sooner the investigations are over, the Sports Ministry should take immediate action to restore democracy in that NSA.

Since the membership of a NSA has no right to question the conduct of an Interim Committee, those ‘appointed’ members could go astray, against the wishes of its member clubs, associations and affiliated bodies. Unless the Sports Minister closely monitors their conduct or investigate on whatever the allegations leveled against them, members of an Interim Committee could abuse power.

Apart from cricket, interim administrations that exist in certain other sports too should be replaced with elected Executive Committees. There is little or no room for an elected Ex-Co member to go astray as all his moves are carefully being monitored by the members of that NSA. But the same cannot be said about an interim committee member. That is precisely why we have always opposed longer existence of interim committees.

More ICs than elected

Unfortunately, the country’s cricket governing body has more often than not been managed by interim committees. Ever since Sri Lanka’s 1999 World Cup debacle, the SLC has been governed by interim committees than elected Executive Committees! This does not sound well for the game and its promotion.

Hence, it’s high time that Dayasiri calls for fresh elections to the SLC to end the innings of Wettimuny and his team. At a time President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are making every endeavour to practice good governance and restore five-star democracy, the country’s sports administration too should regain democratic rights.

We earnestly hope that the destiny of the country’s cricket administration would go to correct hands after a democratically elected Ex-Co takes over the control of the SLC. It is only under such administration that the aspirations of member cricket clubs and affiliated bodies would be fulfilled.

We are not lobbying for any individuals! Whoever who aspires to come to the top seat of the SLC should get the mandate of the member clubs and associations. Hence, the new SLC President and his team could have their own way although an interim committee couldn’t afford to do such. Let the democracy be restored at the SLC sooner than later so that the elected set of new cricket officials could put the administration on the right track.

High jumper Ranatunga from Godakawela Maha Vidyalaya cleared 2.13metres to win the gold medal, but was unfortunately failed to surpass the record which is owned by Milan Dissanayake. However Ranatunga’s jump also earned him the best jumper award.
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President Maithripala Sirisena handing over the best Male Athlete’s Award to Roshan Dhammika of Kularatne Central College, Godakawela.
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Young sprint queen of the meet, Rumeshika Ratnayake of St. Joseph’s Balika MV, Kegalle, receiving the best female athlete’s award from President Maithripala Sirisena. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam looks on.

The champion high jumper enjoyed two silver medals at the recently concluded Asian Youth Championship and Commonwealth Youth Games, and represented the country at the the IAAF World Youth Championship this year and was the hot favourite to win the crown at this year’s All Island School Games

Meanwhile the young sprint sensation Rumeshika Kumari Ratnayake of St. Joseph’s Balika MV, Kegalle, clocked 11.95 seconds and 24.09 seconds in the 100 metre dash and 200 metres events, continuing to erase records.

In the girls Under-21 200metres, she erased the record set by Damayanthi Dharsha to prove her class, making her the top nominee for the best female athlete’s title. Rumeshika who secured the sixth place at the Asian Athletics Championship held earlier this year, has a 11.56 second-100 metre dash in her profile and is just behind Sri Lanka’s legendary Susanthika Jayasinghe and Damayanthi Dharsha in the lest of country’s all time fastest women.

Unfortunately lack of competition during the two finals prevented her from making her best effort but she also sealed the best sprinter of the championship title as she collected 1027 IAAF points for her performance in the 200m.

Pasindu Bhawantha of Weera Keppetipola Central College Akuramboda was adjudged the best thrower for his record breaking effort of 57.77m in the boys Under-17 Discus Throw. Incidentally his twin brother Aruna Darshana also set two records in the 400m and 400m hurdles events.

Maris Stella College Negombo sealed the boys overall championship with 163 points, while A. Rathanayake Central College Walala (96) and St. Benedict’s College Kotahena (72) finished second and third respectvely. A Rathnayake Central College Walala sealed the girls’ overall championship with194 points in their possession while Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Rathnapura were the runner up with 147 points. St. Joseph’s BV Kegalle finished third with 141 points.

The record setters in the final day included S. Dilakshan of People’s College Jaffna who set a new meet record in the boys under-19 Pole Vault as he bettered the current national record holder Ishara Sandaruwan’s record of 4.31metres. St Benedict’s College’s Sahan Rajapaksa beat Gateway’s Asiri Wijesekara in the much awaited boys Under-17 100 metres final. In the relay events, Royal College under-15 4x400m team established a new record, clocking 3 minutes 35.37 seconds. St. Benedict’s College Kotahena were the proud owners of the other relay record of the day when they clocked 3 minutes 21.35 seconds in the boys Under-17 4x400m relay.

Chief Guest President Maithripala Sirisena, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam were among the dignitaries who gave away the trophies and awards at the conclusion of the meet.

Fifteen years ago we celebrated her victory of winning an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka and today I decided to attend this event as a tribute paid by the Head of State after 15 years and we share the same feeling of victory he said. President Sirisena also said that not only Susanthika, but anyone who achieves targets faces many obstacles, so what is important is to face them with courage like Susanthika herself did. When I was the Health Minister I could not work independently and if I could, I would have settled most of the problems in the health sector.

I know the field of sports was worse so I do not blame the former sports ministers for the set back we had in the field of sports during the recent past, President Sirisena said. As the government we have had many discussions on how to improve the standards of sports in our country and I’m sure there is a necessity of a broader plan and effective strategies to develop sports in the island he said. The ceremony was held to launch Susanthika Jayasinghe Athletic Academy, Susanthika Jayasinghe Sports Fund and to launch ‘ My Story’ Susanthika’s autobiography. Susanthika’s then coach and manager Tony Campbell who flew all the way from America to attend the 15th year celebration said it was really tough to work with Susanthika at the beginning. When I first met her in 1998 I did not know where Sri Lanka is , but after two years when she won the Olympic medal in Sydney the whole world could witness Sri Lankan flag being waved he said. It has been 15 years since Susanthika won an Olympic medal but through all those years Sri Lanka has not produced another Olympic prospect to follow Susanthika. I request the President, the sports minister and other authorities to start today itself and make a plan and put that plan into practice to find another few athletes to repeat what Susanthika did. Susanthika Jayasinghe speaking on the occasion thanked everyone who have helped her and wished the same for the proposed athletic academy.

President’s Counsel Kalinga Indathissa also recalled how Susanthika had to face many obstacles and finally how she managed to overcome them to win an Olympic medal. Roshan Dammika Ranathunge of Kularatne MMV who was adjudged the best male school athlete and his coach Tiran Gamage and best female school athlete Yamani Dulanjali of Ambagamuwa MMV and her coach Anura Bandara were also felicitated on the occasion. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, former Sports Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Gamini Lokuge, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, foreign diplomats, sports officials, celebrities and many distinguished guests were also present.