Sports Minister orders transparency in selections

The Ministry of Sports has issued strict guidelines on appointment of selectors and the selection of national teams, signifying major progress towards streamlining two of the most important aspects of sports administration.

At present, selectors are nominated by respective associations and the Sports Minister is required by law to rubber stamp them on the recommendations he receives from the respective national sports bodies.

However, according to the new regulations, the power of making recommendations in respect of appointing the selection committees of sports bodies are vested only with the National Sports Selection Committee ( NSSC), a body which was earlier identified as ‘Selection Committee’.

The new NSSC will be an all- powerful one with veto powers in the event of any injustice. The NSSC has powers to cancel the selection trials of any national sports association in the event these trials are conducted at the personal discretion of individuals of sports bodies without following the set guidelines.

Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa made these changes to the existing laws under the powers vested in him by the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973.

The Minister has also attempted to restructure the selection process, besides the appointment of the selectors, by ordering all national sports associations to inform the athletes of the selection criteria, dates and venues and all other relevant details 14 days prior to the date of the selection trial - a move welcomed by many athletes the Sunday Times spoke to. This will leave no room for the confusion which arise from haphazard selections - something that has often been practiced by most sports bodies in the country.

“The copies of such details should be presented in writing to the National Sports Selection Committee also on the same day,” an extraordinary gazette issued on September 9, 2020 reads.

The new regulations also mean that the selectors, while functioning mostly in a honorary capacity ( except in the case of cricket where they are paid an allowance), will have their work cut out. The regulations demand the publicising of selection criteria in the websites of the respective sports association and also of the Sports Ministry 28 days prior to the event. It should also be shared with the National Sports Selection Committee 28 days prior, the regulations mandate.

In order to make the selection process as transparent as possible, the regulations also require the publishing of the selection results on the internet soon after completion, leaving enough time to appeal to the NSSC in the event of any discrimination. The

NSSC is vested with the powers to investigate any such discrimination.

There was, however, no unanimous approval of the new regulations with associations arguing that they did not have the means to follow such strict guidelines.

“Only a handful of associations got a professional administrative set up and also enough money in their coffers thanks to the funding they receive from their respective parent bodies. We are managing with bare minimum facilities, so we don’t have the means to maintain a website. I think we must look at the practical issues before implementing such strict guidelines,” said an official of one national sports body speaking on condition of anonymity. This view was echoed by many other bodies, which struggling to survive.

The new regulations have also given specific guidelines for the appointment of coaches, managers, trainers and masseurs for international competitions.