Sports
Constitution amended to stop total outsiders running for top posts of Sri Lanka Athletics
by Reemus Fernando
Sri Lanka Athletics has made two key amendments to its constitution that will change the eligibility criteria for top posts of the governing body. Sri Lanka Athletics at a Special General Meeting, amended the constitution in a bid to stop ‘total outsiders contesting for top posts of the track and field sports body’.
“Winning a top position at a national level competition at junior or senior category is a must to be eligible to run for top positions of Sri Lanka Athletics now,” Saman Kumara Gunawardana, the secretary of Sri Lanka Athletics told ‘The Island’.
“So far there was no regulation pertaining to competition experience to be eligible to be elected to the executive committee of the association. It was agreed at the Special General Meeting to make competition experience a prerequisite to run for top posts,” said Gunawardana.
According to the new amendments, those running for top posts ‘excluding the treasurer and assistant treasurer posts should have participated in more than one track and field event and secured first, second or third place at a top national level competition’.
Those podium positions should have been achieved at Junior National Championship, Sir John Tarbat Championship, All Island Schools Games, Senior National Championship, National Youth Athletics Championship, Provincial Championships of the National Sports Festival or at International competitions recommended and approved by Sri Lanka Athletics and the Ministry of Sports.
Amendments were also made to the eligibility of voting rights of member clubs and affiliated district associations. Apart from providing the annual financial statement and report of the AGM the member clubs and associations are required to conduct at least three out of the five following events for it to be eligible to vote at the AGM. They are the Annual Championship, Coaching Camp, Coaches’ Seminars or Workshop, Technical Official Workshop and participation of minimum 10 athletes at the National Championship or Junior National Championship.
The new amendments have come at a crucial juncture as the current term of incumbent officials is set to end mid next year. Sri Lanka Athletics is required to conduct its election of office bearers before end May 2025.
The new amendments will also affect some members of the current executive committee of Sri Lanka Athletics consisting of 13 members.
The BCB has said that they will rely on the Bangladesh government’s directive before finalising their tour to Pakistan later this month. Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play five T20Is there from May 25 to June 3, but the PSLs schedule was revised following cross-border tensions between Pakistan and India.
According to the revised fixtures, the PSL final will now be held on May 25, when Pakistan and Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play the first T20I.
ESPNcricinfo has learned that the PCB has sent a new schedule for the T20Is between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the first match now slotted for May 27, and the last on June 5.
BCB’s media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman said they will rely on information from government security agencies and the Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad to take the final decision.
“Once we receive official communication about the dates and venues [of the tour], we will forward it to the government,” Rahman said. “The BCB is not the decision-maker in this matter. If the government agencies and our embassy declare Pakistan safe for travel, only then will we proceed.
“In our previous meeting, we agreed that any such situation would be referred to the foreign and home ministries. Once we get clearance from all relevant bodies, we will finalise the tour. Security concerns were more significant in the past, but Pakistan has proven it can ensure safety. Still, given the current circumstances, we need to assess whether the situation across the country is stable before sending the team.”
Before playing Pakistan, Bangladesh are scheduled to play two T20Is against UAE in Sharjah on May 17 and 19. They were then supposed to fly to Lahore on May 21.
[Cricinfo]
Apna Perera won his third title of the 110th Colombo Championships as he partnered Dhilvan Herath to beat Dumindu Dilum and Chehan Fernando in the open men’s doubles final.
Apna and Dhilvan registered 6-2, 6-2 win in the final.
Apna, the open men’s singles champion, was also the winner of the mixed doubles which was played according to round robin method. In the mixed doubles Apna partnered Inuki Jayaweera.
Results
Men’s doubles semi-finals
Apna Perera and Dhilvan Herath beat Ashen Silva and Lithum Jayabandu 6-1, 6-2
Dumindu Dilum and Chehan Fernando beat Methika Wickramasinghe and Vichinthya Nilaweera 6-3, 2-6, 10-4.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently carried out a Fast Bowling Talent Search program in the Polonnaruwa District as part of its ongoing efforts to identify and nurture emerging cricketing talent across the country.
The program, held at the Royal College Ground, Polonnaruwa, attracted over 60 promising young players—both boys and girls—including school cricketers of the district. Each participant underwent skill assessments to evaluate their fast bowling potential.
Following the evaluations, 20 talented bowlers were selected for further development.
The selected players will now receive structured training under the guidance of Provincial coaches of Sri Lanka Cricket, with a focus on refining their techniques and enhancing their overall performance.
Those who continue to demonstrate consistent improvement will be given the opportunity to join SLC’s district squads, thereby becoming part of the official National Pathway Program.
This initiative is a part of SLC’s ‘Cricket Gamata’, program which aims to find talent from rural areas across Sri Lanka.
The talent assessments were conducted by Lasantha Lakmin, SLC Talent Scout for the North Central and North Western Provinces; Lakshitha Herath, North Central Provincial Women’s Coach; and Saman Senanayake, North Central Provincial Fast Bowling Coach.
The event was organized by the North Central Provincial Cricket Association under the guidance of Sri Lanka Cricket. It was managed by Krishan Anandakumar, Manager of the Center of Excellence, Dambulla.
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