Aluthgamage bows down to IOC demands

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Sport Ministry last week bowed down to the pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which demanded to keep political interference away from sports administration as it had principally agreed to change certain regulations in the Sports Law ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with the IOC officials in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The compromise was reached last week when Sports Minister met with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) officials in an effort to end the current impasse which has put country’s Olympic status at stake.

A released issued by the Ministry of Sports after last Wednesday’s meeting did not elaborate on the specific clauses which it had agreed to change but sources said that they agreed to change six controversial clauses.

According to sources, the director general of sports would only function as an observer as oppose to a member with voting rights in NOC, auditing of accounts of NOC funds other than provided by the ministry by auditors of their choice, to provide voting rights to all NOC affiliates (Provided they conduct their AGM’s before December 27), the NOC representatives are decided by the members of the respective sports associations and  to curtail the sports ministry involvement only under special circumstances.

The IOC constantly oppose any form of political interferences in sports administration and demand the autonomy of these voluntarily, non-profit and self financing sports associations.

The IOC has its concerned with regard to country’s Sports Law and the subsequent amendments included thereafter but local authorities claim that Sports Law No. 25 and the National Associations of Sports Regulations No. 1 of 2013 are aimed at dealing with institutionalized politics and corruption in sports bodies.

A letter dated November 15, IOC urged local officials to respect the Olympic Movement and remove controversial regulations gazetted early this year before holding the NOC election. The election of office bearers at country’s most prestigious sports body is scheduled for December 27. However the holding election on scheduled will largely depend on the meeting on November 27 where Sri Lankan authorities need to prove that it does not meddle with sports associations and their administrative work.

A group led by minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, secretary Anura Jayawickrama, lawyer Panduka Keerthinanda, deputy solicitors general Sumathi Dharmawadane, Dr.Maiya Gunasekara and NOC vice-president Dian Gomez will represent the Ministry at the meeting while NOC secretary Maxwell de Silva, NOC vice presidents Rohan Fernando, Deva Hendry, NOC member Prithi Viraj Perera and its legal advisor Dilshan Jayasuriya will represent NOC at the meeting.