The selection of an Australian based teenage pole-vaulter to receive a financial grant under the Olympic Solidarity Program ahead of several promising local stars has raised serious doubts over claims Sri Lanka was focused on taking care of home grown talent.
Muditha Jayasekara a 17-year old residing in Australia will receive a monthly grant of US$ 1000 (Rs. 130,000) for a three year period along with badminton star Niluka Karunaratne, the 28-year-old national champion.
But experts are worried Sri Lankan athletic and Olympic officials have got the wrong end of the stick or are creating more room for desertions and heartburn among the country’s home-based sportsmen and women following the shock retirement of javelin thrower Sachith Maduranga who accused the local establishment of destroying the careers of athletes after winning a Silver at the Asian Championships in June this year.
Jayasekara, said to be an Australian junior champion and bronze medalist at the Australian Youth Olympics Festival, has been earmarked as an international medal prospect by Sri Lanka athletics authorities when recommending him for the three-year financial benefit program after he was spotted by Maxwell de Silva, General Secretary, National Olympic Committee (NOC).
“No doubt he (Jayasekara) is a talented athlete but there are many more athletes in our own backyard who deserve financial benefits,” said one expert.
Among them is weight-lifter Shashika Ekanayake, the World Youth Championships silver medalist who has been constantly snubbed by local sports authorities despite been the country’s best junior athlete during the last 12 months.
Ekanayake, 16, who is a student of Maliyadeva College, is tipped as a future international medalist at the big league and probably the best athlete to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Fund, given his age and huge potential.
Teenage hurdler Supun Randeniya from Ranabima College Peradeniya is also another promising star who was a bronze medalist at the Asian Junior Championship last year in the 110m hurdles who would benefit immensely from the financial assistance program.
But the National Olympic Committee (NOC) defended their actions to favour the Australia-based athlete.
“Jayasekara has lots of promise,” said NOC Secretary General Maxwell de Silva. “Niluka is obviously the number one badminton player. So this is why we chose them”.
Niluka Karunaratne represented Sri Lanka at the London Olympics but made a second round exit and given his age (28) one wonders whether he could sustain his form for three more years until the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Athletics chief Palitha Fernando confirmed he recommended Jayasekara, having seen his potential.
“He (Jayasekera) certainly can win a medal at Asian level for us,” Fernando said.
Jayasekara has done a personal best of 4.45 metres in the pole vault which is 20 centimetres lower than Sri Lanka’s Ishara Sandaruwan, the 19-year-old national champion with a 4.65 metres personal best.
The development and assistance budget approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission for the 2013–2016 Quadrennial Plan is USD 438 million.
