AASL chief promises better future for athletes
 

by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka's new athletic chief Dervin Perera promised a better future for the country's athletes and vowed to take stern action against the officials who have abused power. He also said that a new national athletic coach would be picked in consultation with the Ministry of Sports.

Former Sri Lanka national coach, Perera made these observations after he was elected as new President of the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka at a special general meeting held at the National Sports Institute yesterday. He was uncontested as Ranjit Weerasena withdrew his nomination in support of the veteran coach and Deputy Director of Sports.

Perera said many past Sri Lanka athletes, coaches, officials and sponsors have indicated their willingness to support his team and promised to take Sri Lanka track and field to a new dimension. "I am here to perform a job of work, give leadership to resurrect our athletics from its present mess.

Our athletes have been in wilderness without any support or guidance. There have been no proper programs to guide them or sponsorships for them to sustain," Perera said at his maiden news conference after his election to the top seat. The AASL President said he would conduct all inquiries against various malpractices and corruption allegations against the AASL officials.

"I would like to assure you that we would resume the incomplete inquiries," he said. Perera said the controversial airline ticket deal for the recent Asian Championship in South Korea, worth nearly half a million rupees, would be investigated.

Former CEO of AASL, Karunaratne and a couple of high AASL officials are alleged to have overlooked a lower bid and awarded the deal for 45 return air tickets to Seoul to an agent who has charged nearly half a million rupees more.

The raw deal, which took place during the presidency of Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon, was exposed after Sri Lanka baseball team was in the same flight with the athletes to Seoul, had paid much less amount for their tickets. Karunaratne, who held the newly created CEO post without any proper membership or ex-co approval, is alleged to have used his connections to Minister Tennekoon in obtaining the green light.

Perera said they would also investigate the unfortunate incident of three Sri Lanka athletes selected for this year's IAAF World Junior Championships, being unable to make it due to improper handling of their tickets.

AASAL Treasurer H. W. Nimalasiri is alleged to have handled this ticketing deal of which the agent failed to make bookings on time. As a result, the three Sri Lanka junior athletes missed a golden life-time opportunity.

The AASL Treasurer said only Rs. 25,000/- is left behind in AASL coffers though the AASL has over half a million rupees as debts. Nimalasiri said Dervin Perera has already assured Rs. 250,000/- from sponsors and well wishers.

AASL President made a stunning disclosure of a bar / restaurant owned by the AASL running at a loss. Some members pointed out that it could well be a record as the only bar which is running at a loss. According to records, the bar has incurred a loss of over Rs. 85,000/- last year.

AASL President-elect Perera said he would look into all those malpractices and make the association a clean place.