- Urges not to drag sports into oblivion
The Competent Authority (CA) for the three disbanded sports bodies, to netball, automobile and cycling, Dr. Shemal Fernando says, that each of those defunct federations could be revived in no time.
However, he was quick to point out that there was a catch to it and noted for that to materialise, the pending legal cases filed against him, before the Court of Appeal, will need to be withdrawn by the respective petitioners.
He said the onus was currently on those, who had filed legal action against him, to decide for once and for all, if they genuinely want each of those sports to thrive or for it to stagnate further, in the corridors of Aluthkade.
“I am all for the revival of those sports, netball, automobile and cycling,” Dr. Fernando, also the Director General (DG), of the Department of Sports Development, attached to the Sports Ministry said.
“But, quite unfortunately, I have been hamstrung in my efforts to resuscitate those federations, as certain factions linked to those sports bodies have instituted legal action against me. I feel that such action has not had any effect whatsoever on me personally, but they ought to now consider seriously, whether their actions have had any adverse impact, on those games and those who play those sports.”
He emphasised that those who have resorted to seek legal redress from the said sports federations, should take a leaf out of the book of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).
“They need to take the cue from Sri Lanka Rugby. It is time for these disgruntled parties within the federations of netball, automobile and cycling, to settle whatever grievances before Court, for the greater benefit of the sportsmen and women,” he opined.
“I am still hopeful that at least within the next month or so, these issues could be sorted out and new administrations could be installed, for the ultimate good of the sport in general. But this still hinges on the actions of the petitioners, who have filed litigation against me. I hope saner counsel will prevail sooner than later.”
Ex-Sports Minister Harin Fernando, suspended four sports federations- Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL), Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) and the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) on 29 May.
This was over their perceived failure to hold the election of office bearers, before the annual deadline 31 May, via a Special Gazette Notification.
Since then the Sports Ministry DG, was installed as the Competent Authority (CA), for each of those four disbanded sports federations.
However, after seven months of legal deadlock, the upheaval related to SLR was resolved before the Court of Appeal, on 6 December.
This was when the two warring factions of rugby, opted to reach a settlement and thereby press ahead with the conduct of a Special General Meeting (SGM) and an Annual General Meeting (AGM,) during a span of six weeks.
But, the administrations of netball, automobile and cycling, still continue to be in limbo and Dr. Fernando, maintained that the ball was currently in the petitioners’ court.
A visibly exasperated DG, observed that it is those few officials who will need to mull at length, if they intend to drag those sports further into oblivion or to revive those games.