NSC suggests unified voting system

The National Sports Council (NSC), headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, has suggested a unified voting system for all National Sports Associations (NSAs). The proposal has already been presented to the Minister of Sports and Public Entertainment Gamini Lokuge who recently called a meeting with the NSA heads to discuss the possibility of implementing same.

There has been mixed views on the proposal at the initial meeting and Minister Lokuge has now asked the NSAs to submit their views on the proposal before the end of this month.

The NSC should be commended for making a timely proposal after evaluating various factors. Over the years, there have been various complaints on the voting systems of different NSAs. For example, the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union's (SLRFU) decision to afford more votes to second string clubs was criticised when it was initially implemented.

The general argument was that the 'A' division rugby playing clubs were not properly rewarded where as 'B' division clubs would be up on the deal.

Apparently, this was done by the then SLRFU management to strengthen their vote base from the hill capital to gain a distinct advantage. This is just one example and there have been numerous other cases of this nature at the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and several other NSAs.

Hence, the proposal of Dr. Gunasekera and the NSC is a commendable move to streamline all those so that the officials in power could not manipulate things and meddle with the voting systems to suit their strongholds.

More importantly, the NSC has strengthened the provincial and district bodies of NSAs, thereby decentralizing power. That too is a welcome move as some NSA heads often try to disrupt activities of the district and provincial bodies which has not voted for them. All this is due to petty club politics and greed for power and we earnestly hope the new move by Dr. Gunasekera and his council would be a good solution. But some NSA officials have objected to the NSC proposals at the initial discussions. Some even said that they are unable to change their constitutions and adopt new voting systems as they are not on par with their international bodies. But what the NSAs must realise is that they can't entirely dance to the tune of their international bodies. The NSAs must respect the law of the land, irrespective of their affiliations with international bodies.

Apparently, some officials have got cold feet already as their traditional power bases would be destroyed due to the new move. The proposals would also ad more muscle to district and provincial associations, which could even conduct their own tournaments without being forced to get the green light of the national body for each and every simple matter. Of course all clubs, district and provincial bodies are governed by the national body of a particular sport but that does not mean that a NSA could put undue pressure on a member club or regional body to suit their whims and fancies. Former ruggerite turned reputed surgeon Dr. Gunasekera knows his onions.

Having represented Royal and CR & FC, he went on to represent Sri Lanka with distinction. As an able sports administrator, he has served in various capacities - national coach, team manager, team doctor, team physician/ surgeon, SLRFU Vice President and President, Western Province RFU President and as Chef de Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent for the Bangkok 1998 Asian Games.

He has first hand experience of a provincial sport administrator as he had served as President of the Western Province Rugby Football Union. Hence, he has used his long experience as a sports administrator to formulate the new voting structure and proposed amendments to the National Sports Law, for which the Sports Minister has responded positively.

With the year end approaching and the election season of January-March approaching, it's the time that some sports officials do their rounds to woo votes. Some of them manipulate their voting structures from time to time to suit various personal agendas. When some incumbent officials feel that they are at a disadvantageous position at the AGMs, they change the voting stricture and come out with different formula to strengthen their camps.

Most of these practices go unnoticed. But if we have national voting structure and formula, then no official could manipulate things to suite them. It would also pave the way for free and fair elections at all NSAs as people in power are not in a position to 'tamper' the voting structure.

Hence, all those who reject power-greedy officials and expect fair elections at NSAs, must support the NSC proposals which the Sports Ministry is planning to implement.

At the same time, we hope the Sports Minister would get rid of all interim administrations and restore democracy fully in Sri Lanka sport. There are several Interim Councils which run various sport, including cricket. In fact, it's high time to get rid of the long-standing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee. There have been various allegations against the SLC but its interim administration has denied all those.

All these problems arise as the interim bodies are not accountable to the membership of a NSA. The Interim Councils are only answerable to the Sports Minister, the person who appoints them. In contrast, member clubs, affiliated bodies and district/ provincial membership could always question the conduct of an elected Executive Committee of a NSA. Hence, the appointment of interim administrations leave room for corruption.

That does not mean all interim committees are corrupt. But since the interim officials are not accountable to the membership of a NSA, there is always room for unfavourable decisions. All these problems could be ironed out if there is an elected ex-co. That would make the conduct of a NSA more transparent. We hope the Spots Minister would clean up Sri Lanka sport with a common voting system and also restore democracy by holding elections to all NSAs currently run by interim bodies.