New Athletic Assn Heads aim high

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Major General Daya Ratnayake elected uncontested was officially announced as the new Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) President while Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando was elected with a majority of 15 votes as the Secretary General at the SLAA general election at Sports Ministry Auditorium yesterday.

The election was held under the supervision of sports director general Ranjani Jayakody where 113 eligible voters from 38 sports associations cast their votes.

K P Bernard Thilakasiri (assistant secretary) and G G U Saman Kumara (recorder) were also elected uncontested.

The election of the post of general secretary was a keen contest between Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando and former secretary Prema Pinnawala but it did not end in favour of Pinnawala. Fernando secured 50 votes which was a majority of 15, compared to Pinnawala.

There were 14 nominations for the post of six vice presidents but two of them were rejected while another two withdrew their applications before the election.

Former AASL president Sunil Jayaweera (102 votes), N K A G Naragala (82 votes), Olympic siver medalist Susanthika Jayasingne (71 votes), H W Nimalsiri (65 votes), Ajith Premalal Abeysekara (61 votes) and T M Devendra (60 votes) were elected as vice presidents. Former athlete Sugath Thilakaratne was two votes behind T M Devendra and lost a place while Anil Weerasinghe, Upali Kumarasiri and A Thilak Jayasingne also lost hopes.

Chandana Ekanayake, the former treasure retained his seat with two more votes than his opponent Thalav Alaileema who secured 48 votes.

Oliver Calistus Fernando won 67 votes to function as the assistant treasure where he beat his opponent Upali Hettiarachchige who received 22 votes.

Addressing the media after the election, Sports Director General Ranjani Jayakodi was positive of the new set of executive committee. She said that the newly elected committee would make use of the valuable opportunity they got to work for the betterment of athletics in Sri lanka.

The new president Major General Daya Ratnayake addressing the media said that he was confident of facing the challenges ahead to develop athletics in Sri Lanka to greater heights.

He requested all coaches, administrators of sports associations and sports personnel to team up and work towards a one goal to bring fame and honour to motherland.

He also said that the new administration would continue the implemented procedures and plans by former committee in preparation for the forthcoming Junior Asian Athletic Championship.

“The new committee will draw up short term, medium and long term plans after careful investigations to uplift the condition of athletics in Sri Lanka”, Ratnayaka said.