All members of the Sri Lanka Athletics Selection Committee have stepped down, citing interference in their work and the replacement of athletes they had independently selected.
Col. M.K.P. Jayasekara, a former national athlete and record holder, told the media that while the committee had functioned smoothly for over 1½ years, recent developments undermined its independence.
“The athletes we selected have been replaced by others who were not chosen by us. Without any prior notice, certain athletes have been included, and we only learn of this through media and social media platforms. Parents, athletes, and the public question us about why particular athletes were not selected. However, these wrongful acts were carried out by others, not us. As a result, we are facing severe inconvenience,” he said.
The committee, initially comprising five members, saw its Chairman and a female member resign earlier due to personal reasons.
The remaining three, D.A. Dayaratne (former Assistant Director of Sports), Col. M.K.P. Jayasekara, and Ravi Vidyalankara (former public school record holder), continued their duties until now. (Newswire)