Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday told Parliament that 95% of the earnings of the Sri Lanka Cricket was spent on maintaining the national team and entertaining cricket clubs.
Presenting new regulations to amend the Sports Act, Minister Aluthgamage told Parliament that election of the Sri Lanka Cricket is more competitive than the Presidential Election, thus the officials concentrate more on getting re-appointed at the next election than improving the sport.
“They spend the first three months to find faults with the previous administration and another three months to talk to media about it. Once the first six months are over they concentrate on entertaining sports clubs and campaigning to win in the next election,” the minister said while adding that once the new regulations come into effect, the ministry officials can rest peacefully as the tenure in office will be extended to two years.
Player payments –
Responding to members of the opposition who sought an explanation from the minister about recent developments took place concerning the payments for the national players, the minister said no matter what sort of social or political background those players are having at present, they need to learn to be abiding by the ethics and discipline of the sport.
“I learnt my lessons the first time we tried to reduce the payments, which has been wrongfully and arbitrarily increased by 25% by a former Chairman of SLC. I was prepared this time by having a second layer of players just in case the national players try to boycott matches. They should understand Sri Lankans worship cricket next to their religion, thus, should not play with the feelings of the fans,” he added.
The Minister said that first eight players in the team are paid approximately Rs. 4.8 million a month by the SLC apart from what they earn from other means like through advertising.
He also said that the ministry is expecting to bring 500 million dollars a year to country’s economy through sports and will work out a plan to improve sports in the country with having this as a goal.
UNP Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella: We agree with these regulations as a whole, but there are some, of which the purpose is not clear. For example, the regulations prohibit journalists in a media organisation contesting for the official posts in sports bodies but the law does not applicable to the Chief Executive Officers of such organisations.
Minister Aluthgamage: Nishantha Ranatunga had resigned from the CSN.
MP Kiriella: Had he resigned, then there is no problem. Some of these amendments have not been sent to the Supreme Court.
Minister Aluthgamage: Attorney General has given approval for these amendments.
MP Kiriella: Journalists and owners of a media organisation cannot contest yet the CEO is permitted to… I hope a large number of interested parties would go before courts against these regulations. Then the Supreme Court would give a proper definition.
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe: These regulations have been brought in without looking at them political angle. Some of these regulations have been proposals made by Opposition MP Arjuna Ranatunga in this House. I request the Opposition not to look at them with political hatred.
UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake: When the decision was made to prohibit politicians entering into the sports administrative bodies, the services rendered by persons such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Thilanga Sumathipala and Dilan Perera for the benefit of sports should have been taken into consideration. They had rendered a service to sports from various sectors. That should have been appreciated. There is an opinion being formed that the national cricket players are overpaid, but please compare their earnings with the amounts earned by other international players. Kumar Sangakkara is a valuable player.
Minister Aluthgamage: We did not single out Sangakkara for special treatment. Had we done so, other players would not have signed the contract.
MP Karunanayake: I want to know why 25 percent of payments received from the ICC is not paid to the players. They are entitled for that.
Sports Minister: There is no such tradition. It was in practice in accordance with a proposal made by the players. We are not here to maintain only the national team.
MP Karunanayake: The cricket board has recruited surplus number of persons above the cadre approval.
Sports Minister: I have not put a single person to the board.
MP Karunanayake: If there is an administration without dubious deals, there would be an income in the board. We hope the government would improve tourism with the help of cricket.
Kandy District UPFA MP Eric Prasanna Weerawardhane: The attention given to cricket and rugby should be given to other sports too. Sports culture must be promoted so that the nation would be healthy.
Colombo District DNA MP Sunil Handunetti: Sports minister has taken a positive action to end anarchy prevailed in the sports sector. Yet the anarchy and political influences in cricket seem to continue further. It is doubtful whether these regulations would ensure the ending of political influence. We have no problem with politicians entering into the sports bodies if they have qualifications. Yet the furthering of political agendas through sports could not be approved. Today, rugby has become a game which displays political strength. I received a SMS short while ago that Thilan Samaraweera has decided to retire from cricket. He played only the Tests. He is not a failed player. The removal of experienced players in the guise of giving places to the newcomers is not the answer.
Kurunegala District UPFA MP Shantha Bandara: Players of national teams should not rush behind money.
Anuradhapura District UPFA MP Sarath Chandrasiri: Some officials have converted the sports unions into their private property. That is why the Sports minister brings in new regulations to save sports from such characters.
Kalutara District UNP MP Ajith P. Perera: The sports sector of this country would not grow if we look at the sector through cricket only. There is no argument that our cricketers are international level players and they be treated on par with the international players.
Kandy District UPFA MP Lohan Ratwatte: Sports Minister is sorting out the problems in national sports bodies one by one. He had decentralised some of the powers.
Puttalam District UPFA MP Arundika Fernando: Not only cricket but also other sports too have developed in the recent past. We should pay attention to improve sports at school levels too.
Colombo District UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala: I am happy that I could participate in this debate scheduled to be held for two days. I have worked as Vice President of the Cricket Board for 18 years. The amendments debated today would bring in 56 sections to the Sports Act. The Sports Act passed in 1973 would remain same and these new regulations would be added to them.
Article Courtesy The Island
