Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday lashed out at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Chairman.
Minister Aluthgamage told Parliament that the NOC chief was trying to go before the international forums challenging an Act passed in the Sri Lankan Parliament. The minister questioned his right to do that, just because he was a former ministerial and prime ministerial secretary.
Minister Aluthgamage, making a statement in Parliament said some problems had surfaced pertaining to certain provisions in the Sports Act. The Chairman of the National Olympic Committee had complained to the International Olympic Committee against the Sports Act and got his media friends to spread lies.
“The Sports Act had been passed in 1973 in response to complaints against the sports unions and associations, the minister said. After looking into the complaints against sports officials and associations, the then Sports Minister K. B. Ratnayake had brought in the Sports Act outlining how the sports association should function,” he said.
“Regulations had been introduced in the form of an amendment to the Sports Act as requested by sports associations. When those amendments were placed before Parliament everybody in spite of political differences appreciated them. In general, everybody said that those amendments would be beneficial for the country’s sports.”
“However, the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee had complained to the International Olympic Committee that there had been injustices in the Sports Act,” Minister Aluthgamage said. “I have inquired about this complaint and its content from the sports associations and also the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee. All of them responded that they had nothing against the Sports Act and the National Olympic Committee Chairman had acted arbitrarily. The main reason for the complaint was a move to audit the financial transactions of the National Olympic Committee.
“International Olympic Committee (IOC) says that owing to a letter sent to them by the Chairman of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), the government could not conduct an audit. The Chairman of the NOC has gone before the International Olympic Committee against the provisions of an Act passed by parliament to get his hands free to spend public funds allocated by government for the sports.
“In accordance with the request of the IOC, I had to go before the IOC office in Switzerland. I was told there that Sri Lanka would be banned if we did not amend the new regulations introduced to the Sports Act.
This person had been a secretary to several ministries, former secretary to Prime Minister and chairman of corporations. How could such a person complain against a decision passed by Parliament?
The IOC suggested that we bring forth several amendments. Those regulations would be presented before parliament very soon.
How could the National Olympic Committee Chairman find fault with this Act which had been in existence for 40 years. The complaint surfaced at a time when an election had been called to appoint new office bearers to the NOC. This Chairman does not contest elections.
The chairman of the NOC is a hollow statue not a solid one. I hope that action would be taken against him for what he has done and he will be condemned for challenging a law passed by this august assembly and taking the matter to the international forums.”
