Hemasiri says now the minister is flexible

Apositive sign of response was aired by Hemasiri Fernando, President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) last Thursday when he affirmed that the impending situation of sports administration bodies in Sri Lanka will once again come to normalcy very soon. While stating the importance of the removal of at least 10 vital sections of the Sports Law No.25 of 1975 and Sports Regulations 1793/3 and 1825/38, Fernando assured all impending conflicts in the country’s sports administrative field would come to an end in a matter of two weeks.

“When we, as the NOC officials sat together with the new Sports Minister, Navin Dissanayake, his first few words were ‘the rules of the land cannot be changed’. So I came to a conclusion that I will not sit with Minster Dissanayake again for meetings as we cannot move forward as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter with such a mentality. We need to be flexible as a country and such adamant policies will only pull the country’s sports achievements back,” Fernando told reporters at the Olympic House last Thursday.

However after constant reminders of international sanctions, with tremendous pressure mounting globally and with deadlines set to meet as a country, Minister Dissanayake had changed his stance according to Fernando.

“We explained clearly of the consequences Sri Lanka would have to face if the Minister does not change his attitude and eventually he understood the whole situation. He became surprisingly flexible and affirmed his willingness to coorperate and end this trouble. Now we have the confidence that the incumbent Sports Minister would help find the necessary solutions to resolve the matters faced,” Fernando added.

Fernando made these comments at a suddenly arranged press conference in Colombo on Thursday to explain what has caused the current calamities faced by most of the sport governing bodies of Sri Lanka. Fernando highlighted on 10 key clauses of the Sports Act adopted by Sri Lanka, which he feels need to be altered very soon.

“It is a good sign that Minister Dissanayake decided to take a step forward with the intention of finding a permanent solution to the woes faced by Sri Lanka. Officials of certain associations and federations are keener on changing the clause that limits tenures to a limited number of years. But as the NOC we want to change these 10 clauses and the committee appointed is committed to do so,” stressed Fernando.

Fernando believed if the recommended changes are adopted the need of holding Annual General Meetings and Elections of sports governing bodies will be a must.

“What we do as the NOC is help the country clear the dark clouds. If and when that is done, it will be the re- sponsibility of the Ministry of Sports to persuade sports federations and associations to conduct their respective elections or AGMs. But the saddest part is, only seven out of a closer to 55 sports associations are presently co-operating with us to find remedies. Some, who did not fathom the gravity of the expected outcomes even went on with hate campaigns against the NOC,” he revealed.

“They were with and alongside the former Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, pledging their support and making statements such as being there to strengthen the arms of the then Minister. But naively they pushed Mr. Aluthgamage into a grave situation. It’s not the fault of Mr. Aluthgamage, he is a capable individual. But those around him should be held responsible for the whole drama,” lashed out Fernando

he Road Map Item No.2 adopted by the committee to make the proposed amendments evidently points out that all sports associations and federations should get their respective constitutions amended. It also states that approval should be obtained from the respective international governing bodies. But so far this exercise is yet to be implemented by local sports bodies thus contributing immensely to the prevailing condition. The officials of NOC and the Minister of Sports will meet again on Wednesday to further discuss the amendments to the sports regulations.