- Refutes claims of political intervention
Secretary to the Ministry of Youth affairs and Sports Aruna Bandara yesterday asserted that his ministry was yet to be officially informed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), of an imminent ban on the game’s local ruling body-the National Gymnastics Association of Sri Lanka (NGASL).
“We (Sports Ministry) are yet to be officially conveyed with any impending suspension of the NGASL,” the Ministry Secretary told The Daily Morning Sports, when asked for the veracity of news circulating of a probable ban of the membership of the domestic body by the FIG.
“In fact this is news to me and until you told me, I was not aware of it either. Thus far the Sports Ministry has not been informed by the world body for Gymnastics of such a move, and till it happens I think it would be inappropriate for me to make any remarks.”
Bandara was installed as the Competent Authority (CA) for the sport, following its registration being temporarily revoked by the subject Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage along with six other sports institutions, last week.
He stressed that if any suspension is imposed on Sri Lanka, by the sport’s world governing body based in Lausanne, Switzerland the Ministry will look to address it with the input of the AGs Department and relevant institutions.
He added that it was the ministry’s intention to hand over the administration of all sports bodies brought under its purview to the officials concerned, in due course.
The Ministry Secretary vowed that this course of action will be undertaken, following the completion of the due election process, based on the amended constitutions in keeping with the recently Gazetted sports regulations.
He also flatly dismissed claims that by taking over the administration of six sports bodies, it would suggest political interference on the part of the government.
He noted that on the contrary, it had been done to facilitate annual elections while amending constitutions of the institutions in question.
Minister Gamage, last week, temporarily suspended the registrations of netball, cycling, automobile sports, athletics, table tennis and gymnastics, via the issuance of two extraordinary gazette notifications.
He thus installed Ministry Secretary Bandara and the Acting Director General of Sports V. Premachanthiran, as the two Competent Authorities for the dissolved sporting bodies.
The duo has been tasked with liaising with the relevant stakeholders and to press ahead with annual elections to the bodies concerned.
The Minister had further stated in his Gazette Notifications, that both his Ministry officials will also facilitate the process of amending the respective constitutions, in conformity with the provisions of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973.
Earlier on Tuesday (2) reports had suggested that the National Gymnastics Association of Sri Lanka (NGASL) would face the alarming risk of suspension by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), as a result of unresolved governance issues between the Ministry of Sports and the association.
For months, the association has formally requested permission from the Ministry of Sports to conduct its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and hold elections, in accordance with international body’s requirements.
Despite three separate requests, approval has not been granted under the latest Sports Gazette regulations.
The timing of this crisis could not be worse for Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan gymnasts are preparing to compete at the FIG World Championships to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 19-25 October and the Junior World Championships to be staged in Manila, Philippines from 20-24 November.
The International Gymnastics Federation has already inquired about the situation, expressing grave concern that the sport’s local governing body is being unfairly impacted by political decisions beyond its control.
Any suspension would not only damage the international reputation of Sri Lanka, but also deprive scores of its athletes of crucial opportunities to compete on the global platform in their chosen profession.