- Events calendar to be finalised today
The country’s long stymied motorsports sphere is all set to kick start shortly with a newly formulated events calendar.
This has come about after the Competent Authority (CA) for the sport Shemal Fernando, formed an administrative committee, consisting of officials from nine clubs and the Department of Sports Development, on 7 March.
This was revealed to The Daily Morning Sports, by the ex-Secretary of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) Upulwan Serasinghe.
He said that Shemal Fernando who is also the Director General (DG) of the Sports Ministry, had formed the administrative committee as per the powers vested in him and also as per the Extraordinary Gazette Notification issued on 29 May 2024.
According to Serasinghe, the Competent Authority for automobile sports has formed the administrative committee, to facilitate all administrative matters in consultation with the Sports Minister.
The administrative committee consists of officials from the Department of Sports Development affiliated to the Sports Ministry, Office of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports, Ceylon Motor Sports Club, Southern Motor Sports Club, Sri Lanka Army Motor Sports Committee, Sri Lanka Cycle Club, Motor Racing Association, Negombo Motor Sports Club, Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders and the Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association.
The former SLAS Secretary added that the events calendar for this year will be finalised today (24), after the administrative committee convenes at the Sports Ministry premises.
Asked whether the ongoing legal case linked to the sport will have any adverse impact on the operations of the administrative committee, the ace motor racing champion dismissed such suggestions.
“For well over 10-months, the automobile sports sphere was stalled due to the suspension imposed on SLAS,” Serasinghe, who himself is part of the administrative committee, said.
“But, now at least the Sports Minister has listened to our grievances and instructed his Ministry DG, to form an administrative committee which will enable this sport to be revived. The legal case related to the automobile sports, will not have any bearing whatsoever in continuing with the races. I hope all those genuinely interested in motor sports, will join forces with us to keep this sport alive and kicking.”
Serasinghe observed that there were positive signs of the Fox Hill SuperCross organised by the Sri Lanka Army at Diyathalawa continuing, after the unprecedented calamity last year.
It resulted in the loss of eight lives and injuries to some 22, after two cars veered off the track and ploughed into spectators.
However, he noted that till the finalisation of the events calendar, it will not be apt for him to comment on it for the time being.
The letter detailing the formation of the administrative committee for automobile sports, has also been copied by Fernando, to the Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thillakaratne, Secretary to the Sports Ministry Aruna Bandara, President of FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem and President of FIA Asia Walt Lukken, respectively.
Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) was dissolved on 29 May 2024, by former Sports Minister Harin Fernando, over the former’s failure to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM), before the cutoff date 31 May 2024.
Since its dissolution the Sports Ministry DG, has been functioning as the Competent Authority (CA) for the sport.
But, a few of the clubs have filed litigation in the Court of Appeal against Shemal Fernando, over what they perceive to be his controversial conduct towards a few of the motor racing clubs.
This has put a spoke in the wheel of the events calendar from proceeding during the said time period, as the Court has restrained the CA from holding a fresh AGM.
The administrative committee is as follows:
Department of Sports Development – I. P. Wijeratne (Director, Sports)
Office of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports – Rohan Fernando
Ceylon Motor Sports Club – Shayne Choksy, Yohan Lawrence
Southern Motor Sports Club – Dr. Sanjaya Senarath, Sarindu Gamage
Sri Lanka Army Motor Sports Committee – Brig. Piyal Wijesiriwardena,
Maj. Chinthana Weerakoon
Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club – Lt. Co. (Rtd.) Duminda Jayasingha, Anil Jayakody
Motor Racing Association – Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Indu Samarakoon, Izvan Ahamat
Negombo Motor Sports Club – Wing Cdr. (Rtd.) Avindra Mirando, Malaka Herath
Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders – Pubudu Wickrama,
Prashan Wijayanayake
Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association – Rizvi Farouk, Upulwan Serasinghe