Sports Minister Lokuge prefers democracy at SLC

But, asks more time to decide on elections :

Bernard Perera

CRICKET: Minister of Sports & Public Entertainment, Gamini Lokuge said he prefers to reestablish democracy at sports bodies but need more time to take a final decision on an election for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The newly appointed Sports Minister, who succeeded Jeewan Kumaranatunga at the recent Cabinet reshuffle, said he has to make a careful study of the matters that concerns cricket before arriving at a final decision.

He made these observations after meeting a team of former SLC Executive committee members at his Torrington office yesterday. The country's richest sports governing body, which has been under an interim administration appointed by former Minister Kumaranatunga, has been widely criticized by several member clubs and associations for showing a deaf ear.

The sacked SLC ex-co members presented their case before the new Sports Minister who gave a careful hearing.

"It is a decision that has to be taken after a careful study. A decision can not be arrived immediately. I need more time study the exact situation. For this purpose I have decided to meet the present Interim Committee members, the affiliated clubs/ associations and district organissations," he said.

"Once I collect information and obtain views from all people concerned, we could take the most appropriate decision for the best interest of Sri Lanka Cricket. I will also take steps to consult former Officials who held office at SLC, former cricketers and the present cricketers who are away in India," her observed.

The Minister said he would have meeting with the Sri Lanka cricket team to obtain their views on their return from India. The Minister also said that he met the cricketers before their departure to India but could not discuss matters pertaining to administration.

"But I told them that I could give them an opportunity to express their views on this issue,".

Minister Lokuge said it may be difficult to conduct fresh elections to SLC before March 31, the date stipulated by the National Sports Associations to conclude their AGMs each year. "We need some time to study. Hence, I can not assure that we could hold elections before March 31. But I request all other NSAs to conduct their elections to have a democratically elected office bearers for the coming year," he noted.

Speaking further, the Minister said; "I have been here only for few days and I need few weeks to go through all details regarding the functions of the Associations. I know that there are many allegations against the Ministry.

At present I am unable to tell you the exact position and how truth are those allegations. Once I get all the reports, I will definitely try to sort out things for the betterment of sports in Sri Lanka, said the Minister.

The Minister stressed the need of combining tourism with sports to market Sri Lanka as a holiday destination. Lokuge, who held the post of Tourism Minister before, said the country could attract more tourists if we market the sporting events here.

"I want to join hands with the Ministry of Tourism and the Cultural Affairs Ministry to arrange a dance troop to go along with the national cricket team when they tour West Indies for the forthcoming World Cup," he added.

"When Sri Lanka play their WC matches in the Caribbean, they can show the world about our arts and culture.

That would attract more tourists to our country. We also can prove to the world that Sri Lanka is a safe place to tour, as the terrorism is mainly confined to North. This sort of publicity campaign could only be made though sport," he said.

Former Sports Minister dissolved the SLC administration of Mohan de Silva and appointed an Interim Committee, which is headed by Jayantha Dharmadasa at present.

Though fresh elections were called last year, the AGM was cancelled at the last minute.

Interim Committee chairman Dharmadasa was to contest de Silva at the elections, which were cancelled last year.