CID and Bribery Commission to prob into FFSL matter

YASARATNE GAMAGE

Inappropriate handling of finance and lack of inspection by the former FFSL officials and Goal project officials are evident in spending the Tsunami funds received from FIFA, reported the committee appointed by the sports minister to probe into the allegations leveled against the former FFSL officials and then Goal project development officer in Sri Lankia.

The committee headed by the retired Attorney –at Law and former Commissioner General of Prisons Upali Samaraweera and attorney-at – Law Pandu Keerthiratne, B.M.K Mohottala and A.C Wijeratne compiled the fact finding report to the sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage along with their suggestions and recommendations to develop football in SriLanka.

Addressing the media at sports ministry auditorium yesterday, committee secretary Panduka Keerthiratne reported the summary of their decision after swift yet difficult fact finding mission carried out during a short period of time.

Addressing the gathering minister Mahindanada said that they would take stern actions against who ever responsible for misusing funds from FIFA that certainly should have been spent to develop the sport in rural areas and also to develop the standards of players.

“Due to poor administration of FFSL officials the standards of football in Sri Lanka went drastically down and as the sports minister it is my responsibility to look into the reasons for the issue and take speedy actions to develop the sport, the minister said.

Within the limits of the sports ministry we have conducted the investigation and received the report from committee.

In ministry’s capacity we will take disciplinary action against the culprits and investigations into monitory matters will be handed over to the CID and the Bribery Commission,” he added.

He also noted that a special committee comprising of FIFA officials who arrived in Sri Lanka to probe into the allegation of said Tsunami funds would submit their report on July 1. The minister also noted that these procedures are merely to bring FFSL to the right track as an efficient body that can work for the development of the sport. “As the sports minister I do not hesitate to take stern disciplinary actions against those who responsible for misusing the said funds,” minister emphasized.