After a number of media reports and days after his appointment, Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake finally decided to inspect the worn out track at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday, where he said he will work to lay a brand new track as soon as possible.
“I didn’t imagine this to be bad as this. I’m very disappointed and sad about what has happened to the Sugathadasa track, which is a national treasure,” said the minister after inspecting the track during the Borella Schools Circuit meet.
“I have been in politics for 15 years but haven’t seen a corrupt deal like this. The government had paid Rs 147 million to Gahakola Landscape Ltd for this track, which is full of misconduct and a corrupt deal. Our athletes could injure themselves here,” added the minister.
According to Minister Dissanayake allocating funds from the Treasury for the refurbishment of the Sugathadasa Stadium will take time, hence he is looking forward to discuss with the Bank of Ceylon to arrange a loan for the laying of a brand new track.
Meanwhile, the Sugathadasa Hotel reconstruction has begun at a cost valued Rs 40 million.
“There are some private companies who are interested investing on the project to develop this hotel, if they are allowed to build a three-star hotel on the premises. We consider forwarding these suggestions to Parliament and will take a decision,” said the minister.
Meanwhile, the minister also confirmed that the Race Course will get a new synthetic track while the Torrington Ground will also get a track.
“There will be two new tracks and I feel laying the track at the Race Course will be exclusively for athletics,” he said.
Previous Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage laid the new Sugathadasa track in 2012 targeting the Asian Junior Athletics Championship which was held in June 2012, and the track began wearing out only after a few months of its opening – showing signs of a corrupt deal. Although the budget of the last government allocated Rs 2,250 million for refurbishment of Sugathadasa and Khettarama Stadiums that was taken off with the introduction of the interim budget of the new government.
