Joint committee to draft new sports regulation
With the objective of adopting a permanent and conclusive legal document to govern the country's sports, the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Justice are on the verge of forming a joint committee which will include members from both entities. The task of the intended committee will be to make the basic necessities to draft a new Sports Regulation and produce it to parliament for adoption.
A cabinet document is currently being drafted for the approval of formation of the committee, according to reports. It is also said that the new National Sports Council (NSC), headed by former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene, also have discussed on the basic requirements in drafting a new sports regulation, that would be equally friendly to all sports. According to Rohan Fernando, a member of the NSC, contributions and suggestions from all sports associations and federations will be taken into consideration prior to making such basic draft.
According to our sister newspaper 'Lankadeepa', NSC member and Director General of Sports, Amal Edirisuriya was quoted as saying that Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had joined the meeting from overseas through internet technology. Jayawardene had joined the meeting from Dubai, where he was on duty as head coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians and Sangakkara was part of IPL's expert commentators' panel.
"Amendments and adoptions of the Sports Regulation will not happen overnight. The Sports Minister's intention is to create a platform in the sports sector to discuss, debate and share everyone's views with a wider perspective, before drafting a Sports Regulation that will be beneficial for the country, all sports and athletes. Perhaps it would take a couple of years or so for the whole exercise, but there isn't any rush in formulating a draft that would remain for years to come," Edirisuriya was quoted as saying.
Within a day after assuming duties as the new Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Namal Rajapaksa appointed a new NSC on August 15. The new NSC includes 15 prominent figures from the fields of sports and governmental institutions, including Jayawardene's team mate and former cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara, international race driver Dilantha Malagamuwa, Commander of the Army Lt Gen. Shavendra Silva and the Director General of Sports Amal Edirisuriya.
The young minister also emphasised during a meeting held on his inaugural day at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, that the existing Sports Regulation can be considered “outdated” and that he intends to introduce a new regulation that will suit the present developments and environment and adopt it after approval from the parliament.
The existing 1973 Sports Act was enacted by the then Minister of Sports, the late K.B. Ratnayake after presenting and obtaining approval from the National State Council. Later, amendments to the 1973 Sports Act were made on several occasions by different ministers from time to time.