Ministry to take action against Sarath Weerasekara

The Sports Ministry vehemently condemned the Sarath Weerasekara Committee Report on alleged missuses of Tsunami funds by the GOAL project office in Sri Lanka blaming that the report was issued to the Media by the committee chairman Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara on his own without the consent of other four members, Rtd. DIG Pathirana, Rear Admiral Ananda Peris, SSP Padmasiri Munasinghe and Brigadier Kariyawasam at a time the committee proceedings were temporary suspended by the Sports Ministry Secretary.

According to the Sports Ministry, the five-member committee has been appointed by the Executive Committee of FFSL to inquire into spending Tsunami funds Rs 500 million to repair 13 football grounds and on two GOAL projects by GOAL office in Sri Lanka when Sarath Weerasekara was the FFSL president.

Sports Ministry found it is unethical to appoint an inquiring committee headed by a member who is involved in the subjected matter and issued a notice to temporary suspend the committee proceedings on 28-05-2013.

The Sports Ministry appointed a new four-member committee on 27-05-2013 headed by the retired judge Upali Samaraweera to inquire into the matter.

The ministry says Sarath Weerasekara has ignored the suspend declared by the Sports Ministry Secretary and issued a report to the Media on his own declaring all the allegations leveled against Manilal Fernando are baseless, false and malicious.

The Sports Ministry further said that other four members of the Weerasekara's committee were not aware on the declaration and they have expressed their surprise on Sarath Weerasekara's report.

The Sports Ministry said that they will take necessary steps according to the Sports Act and disciplinary action will be taken against Sarath Weerasekara's improper conduct.

AA