- Accused boss temporarily suspended
- Female employee lodges Police complaint
- Sponsor to come back in the event of leadership change?
The Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) President Roshan Gunawardena, has been temporarily suspended from his post by the game’s local controlling body, pending the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry into a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him by a newly-recruited female employee of the SLB.
This was confirmed to The Daily Morning Sports, by the SLB Acting President Chamara Aluthge, when inquired about the alleged incident.
He said that the now-suspended head of the SLB, had been summoned before its Inquiring Officer, Attorney-at-Law Panduka Keerthinanda on 30 July, at which point the accused former head of the SLB, had sought time till Wednesday (12), to give his side of the story in writing.
“He (Roshan) has sought time till 12 August, to give his version of the story,” Aluthge said. “Further action will be contemplated depending on his response. But there is also a separate Police inquiry to contend with, against him.”
He remarked that at the inquiry held, the female employee of SLB who had been allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by the ex-head of SLB, had been advised to lodge a complaint with the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station. to which she had complied.
However, Aluthge noted that to his knowledge the former President who has been embroiled in the sexual harassment saga, had thus far failed to appear before the Police.
Aluthge stated that the General Committee of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) has already submitted a charge sheet to Gunawardena-who had only become its head in May last year replacing Rohan de Silva, but noted that they were still to receive any response to it as well.
According to the SLB Acting President, apart from the alleged sexual harassment case, Gunawardena-a controversial figure at the game’s domestic governing body, has also been charged with a spate of financial, administrative, management, and governance, issues as well.
He added that it had forced the General Committee of SLB to table a Motion of No Confidence against the leadership of Roshan Gunawardena at its meeting convened on 4 August while allowing him a week’s time period to submit a comprehensive written explanation in respect of each allegation raised.
The General Committee of SLB had conveyed to Gunawardena that failure on his part to submit a written explanation within one week of the receipt of the charge sheet, may result in the SLB proceeding with its findings and recommendations based on material available before it, without any further reference to him.
This had been conveyed in writing to Roshan Gunawardena by Sri Lanka Badminton Assistant Secretary Jaliya Jayasekara.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the disclosure of the sexual harassment allegation against him, the suspended President of SLB submitting a letter to its Acting head and the Assistant Secretary, had tendered his resignation from his post, citing increased business and family commitments effective 4 August.
He had also sent copies of his letter to the Sports Minister, Deputy Minister, Sports Ministry Secretary, and the DG of the Sports Ministry.
Asked what their next course of action would be against its suspended former boss, Aluthge, was of the view that they will need to wait for the outcome of its internal disciplinary inquiry as well as the investigation by the Police.
He however, observed that as things stand currently with a litany of charges directed, it was rather unlikely for the former head to return to his portfolio, with 99 per cent of the General Committee having already requested him to take over.
According to Aluthge, a leading corporate sponsor that had been involved with the SLB, but had severed ties with it due to the controversial governance style of Roshan Gunawardena, had expressed their willingness to return, if a change of leadership takes root at the ruling body.