Doomsday looming for SL Athletics
Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) faces a possible doomsday as the Colombo District Court expects to take up the case filed by former athletes turned coaches, Priyantha Thanthirige and Chaminda Fonseka, seeking an injunction order against AASL holding their election. The AASL election is set to be held tuesday (30th).
If the Court issues an injunction order, consequences will not be in favour of Sri Lanka Athletics or athletes, as it will be they who may have to suffer, with a possible international ban following the injunction order.
Interim committee and IAAF ban
The immediate reaction after an injunction order will be formation of an interim committee, as the present AASL office bearers will lose their power on May 31st. Since IAAF will not recognize any interim committee, Sri Lanka will face an immediate IAAF ban, which will also affect their membership for Asian Athletics Association (AAA), who are also an affiliated body of IAAF and hence, will follow in the same footsteps.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s participation at the Asian Athletics Championship in July and IAAF World Championship in August will be in jeopardy. Funding by IAAF to AASL will also stop, while any meet conducted by AASL will not get IAAF recognition.
The Case
It’s surprising that a case has been filed by the two former athletes, who are members of an athletic club which is not yet an affiliated body of AASL. Both of them did not submit their nomination for any post through any of the AASL member clubs. Yet a source close to them revealed that they have filed this case against four of the current contestants for post of office bearers of AASL, which does not include top posts such as President or Secretary.
As per the source, they have enough evidence to prove that accepting nominations of those four violates AASL Constitution and Sports Law. Their complaint is that they are involved in coaching and judging of competitions and according to AASL Constitution, neither coaches nor judges are eligible to face the election largely due to conflict of interest that can occur in such a scenario.
Interim Committee drama in 2012
The last time AASL went for an Interim Committee was back in 2012, where then Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage appointed an Interim Committee by dissolving AASL officer bearers. IAAF sent a letter querying the Minister’s decision to go for an Interim Committee, where Minister hurriedly conducted an election in a questionable manner. Even after the hurried election there were many problems faced by AASL, as Asian Athletics Association canceled the Asian Junior Athletics Championship which was to be held in a month’s time, following threats made by IAAF to cancel AASL membership.
Present Standing for election
The two main contenders for post of President are former AASL President Maj. Gen (rtd) Palitha Fernando and incumbent President Sugath Thilakarathne. Odds seem to be in favour of Fernando who presently also holds an executive committee membership of the Asian AA. Former Secretary and veteran sports administrator Prema Pinnewala, who is an IAAF family member with close ties to the world governing body, is set to be uncontested. Nevertheless Thilakarathne also high on confidence regarding winning the election even though situation at nomination indicates otherwise.
Who is behind this?
The fact that all four members against whom allegations have been made are supporters of Fernando’s camp, whereas both Thanthirige and Fonseka are close associates of Sugath, only indicates who is pushing for this injunction order, which also raises the question whether Sugath is really confident of winning on Tuesday or just bluffing.
