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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has assured an immediate inquiry over the alleged assault on Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe. This follows her decision to quit athletics in disgust, shattering her dream Olympic 'gold' at the 2004 Athens Games.

The 26-year-old Jayasinghe said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe telephoned her yesterday and assured a full-scale investigation. The Premier has also assured all support for her to train for the future international meets ahead.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando has appointed a one-man committee to look into the incident. Speaking to the 'Daily News', Minister Fernando said he went to the Sports Ministry immediately after he came to know about the incident. "But both the Director of Sports and Deputy Director were not present. The officials have not taken an action over the incident until I went there. I have appointed Sports Ministry's Additional Secretary, P. Madugoda to be the one-man committee," the Minister said.

Minister Fernando said that the Committee report should be handed over to him today (21). Madugoda will have two separate reports on his investigations - on the Jayasinghe incident and the other on the two senior officials who were absent when the Minister visited the Ministry. Minister Fernando said further action would be taken on the findings of the two reports..

Meanwhile, Jayasinghe had a media conference at her luxury apartment at Narahenpita to describe the unfortunate incident she had to face at the Sports Ministry premises in Torrington on Wednesday. The two men who have been accused are her Olympic and World championship team mates - Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Ranga Wimalawansa. Jayasinghe once again openly attacked the sacked Sri Lanka athletic chief and former Asian Games gold medallist Sunil Gunawardena for allegedly using bad tactics to shatter her Olympic dream.

Jayasinghe accused Gunawardena of sending the two athletes to attack her.

"He has been critical on some of our good athletes who don't train under him. Sriyani Kulawansa has often been a target. Sugath Tillakaratne too was a victim. Recently, Wimalawansa and Pradeep Kumara openly confronted Sriyantha Dissanayake in the presence of Gunawardena. This should be stopped. I hope the new Government will put an end to this dirty games in athletics and secure a better future for our athletes," she said. Jayasinghe said Wimalawansa and Pradeep Kumara came up to her when she was returning from the Ministry gymnasium on Wednesday morning and had a heated exchange of words with her. "They abused me with the worst foul language in the presence of my mother, who was accompanying me. They threatened to kill me and damage my house. I was humiliated in public," Jayasinghe explained her bitter experience.

"They tried to assault me and I was pushed to a side against a wall," Jayasinghe said. She said her mother has got scared after the incident. Even her husband and former Sri Lanka athlete, Dhammika Nandakumara has advised her to quit athletics after this incident. "Both my mother and husband said that I should not continue athletics at the risk of my life. Hence, I have decided not to live exposed to this deadly elements and give up the sport. I still have love for the track and I know I could win an Olympic gold medal next time around, if I have a peaceful training schedule. But Gunawardena and his athletes are not allowing me to do so. I have no option, but to hang up my spikes," a dejected sprint queen said.

Jayasinghe said she will not train again, unless she is assured of a peaceful atmosphere. "There should be a peaceful mind for an athlete to train. I am not asking for money, sponsorships or anything of that nature.

All what I ask is to allow me to train peacefully. That type of an environment would lead me to an Olympic gold medal. But if I don't get that peaceful set up quickly, I have no option but to be out of the sport," she concluded.

Meanwhile, Wimalawansa has been discharged yesterday from the Colombo National Hospital, to which he admitted on Wednesday, complaining of an attack by thugs, allegedly arranged by Jayasinghe. However, she flatly rejected the claims. Wimalawansa and Rohan Pradeep, who were arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police on a complaint made by Jayasinghe, were reportedly have been bailed out. 

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