The dirty stink that has now engulfed the National Olympic Committee with the International Olympic censoring it in respect of financing the NOC is certainly a dirty disgrace that Sri Lanka needs to rid fast for the sake of the sport and the country’s innocent athletes who have been resultantly badly affected due to uncaring shoddy officials manning the nerve center of what is by and large the biggest sporting umbrella encompassing a multitude of Sports disciplines.
Today’. the Sports Minister Anura Kumara Gamage has been forced to step in to getting the prevailing impasse sorted out having convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday at the Sports Ministry with executive members of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and directing them to ensure that matters are put right.
It is a crime that the premier Olympic sports umbrella has got dirtied due to corrupt officials where the NOCs Secretary Maxwell Silva has come under the firing line with the IOC demanding from the NOC top brass mainly it’s President Suresh Subramanam that the corruptor be removed from office.
The lurking big question is why is it that the NOC President Subramanam is not falling on line with the IOCs directive where Maxwell Silva is accused of financial corruption as well as human trafficking.
These are highly serious allegations on which the IOC has demanded Silva’s removal.
GO FOR GOLD for one is aware of the irresponsible manner in which the NOC conducts it’s affairs.
Whenever we have tried to contact Suresh Subramanam we have drawn blanks with his private secretary telling us that he is not in office at the time. Such a bad setting at what is considered the hallowed precincts of the nerve center of the sport is a lingering eye sore leaving a dulled outlook by the negativity surrounding it due to the actions of irresponsible officials governing it.
In such a gloomy backdrop, the Sports Minister showing his concern as to the seriousness of the IOC action affecting athletics in the country for nearly a year rooted in internal administrative issues within the NOC saw him direct the NOC to take swift action to resolve the matter, stressing that athletes should not be denied opportunities to participate in sports due to these administrative challenges.
“The IOC’s decision reflects the internal disputes within the NOC,” the Minister said. “It is essential that we prioritise our athletes, ensuring they have the freedom and resources to compete and succeed in their respective disciplines.”
Minister Gamage reiterated the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry’s commitment to providing full support in resolving the crisis. He also called on the NOC to comply with the IOC’s recommendations to restore stability and credibility within the organisation.
Sports Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne, Youth Affairs Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara, and Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry Secretary Aruna Bandara joined the discussions. Also in attendance bwere the Chairman, Secretary, and Executive Committee members of the NOC.
AT THE BUTT END MAXWELL SILVA
