Sri Lankan sports minister keen to resolve association issues

Colombo: Sri Lanka's new sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera is keen to set right all issues concerning national sports governing associations including calling for fresh elections of the cricket body.

Assuming his duties Jayasekera, 47, said he wanted to make sure that problems with regard to all sports associations are resolved.

"The first issue is the current problem with the International Olympic Committee," Jayasekera said.
In 2013, the then Minister of Sports was accused by the local Olympic committee of destroying the autonomy of sports associations by amending sports laws to pave the way for political interference in sports.

The International Olympic Committee had summoned the then minister and officials together with local officials of the National Olympic Committee to its headquarters in Switzerland to discuss Sri Lanka's Sports Law 25 of 1973.

The IOC then warned Sri Lanka to do away with the controversial provisions in the Sports Law to ensure autonomy and jurisdiction of national sports associations or risk losing international status.

"We will have a close look at the Sports Law," Jayasekera said.

Jayasekera said he would hold due elections for all sports associations including the cricket governing body, Sri Lanka Cricket.

The ICC took exception to the government appointing an interim committee to run cricket.

Following clarifications on the governments move to eradicate corruption in the cricket administration, the ICC has allowed the politically appointed interim committee to wind up by the end of the year leading to fresh elections.