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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Next month's South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Pakistan will be held as scheduled, despite the prevailing situation after the recent terrorist attacks in the United States. The Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Hemasiri Fernando gave this assurance after he had talks with the SAF Games organisers in Pakistan.

Fernando, the former ace Sri Lanka shooter turned Olympic official, said yesterday that the organising committee has assured the security of the Lankan contingent and are going ahead with the Games. "I spoke to the chairman of the Islamabad SAF Games organising committee, Maj. Gen. Syed Asif Hussain. He said that the Games are on as planned. Maj. Gen. Hussain also assured the security of the participating teams," NOC chief said in an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' yesterday.

The dynamic NOC boss said Sri Lanka will participate at the SAF Games as they have got the security clearance from the organisers. However, the final decision is to be taken by the Government in consultation with the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pakistan.

NOC chief Fernando, along with the Lankan chef-de-mission "Reza Latiff, were in Pakistan over the weekend for a special meeting of the officials of the seven participating countries. Over 1,100 sportsmen and women from all seven SAARC countries in South Asia are due to take part at the Games.

Fernando is in touch with his counterparts as well as the organising committee officials in Pakistan. "When I telephoned the organisers yesterday, they were very confident and stated that they are going ahead with the Games despite the developing situation. We expect the final confirmation by the weekend," he added. Unless there would be any drastic situation following any US action on Afghanistan, the SAF Games will be on as scheduled.

Sri Lanka will compete in all 15 disciplines of the SAF Games. The strength of the Lankan contingent will be around 270 of which a major portion goes to athletics. There will be 52 members in the Lankan athletic team, captained by Asian Games gold medallist Sugath Tillakaratne.

Sri Lanka is yet to name its overall captain of the contingent. Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe has been tipped to secure this post, but her chances have been somewhat reduced after the IAAF World Championships.

Besides Jayasinghe, others who are in contention will be Sugath Tillakaratne, Sriyani Kulawansa and Damayanthi Darsha, who was Sri Lanka's overall captain at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The seven-nation Games was in the balance due to the prevailing situation in neighbouring Afghanistan after last week's terrorist attack in the United States. The organisers of the seven-nation Games in Islamabad next month have said that they are going ahead with the Games, though there is a certain amount of uncertainty and risk remaining due to an anticipated US retaliation on Afghanistan.

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