Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has addressed recent controversies surrounding visa delays for Sri Lankan athletes, clarifying that the Sports Ministry has no authority to issue visas and urging sports federations to take greater responsibility in managing travel arrangements.
Speaking to the media, the Minister noted that there is a common misconception that visas can be obtained through the Ministry. “Even for a minister to travel overseas, we must comply with the procedures of the relevant visa authorities. There are mandatory timelines for processing visas, and these must be respected,” he said.
He highlighted a recent case involving an under‑14 badminton team, which submitted passports to the Chinese Embassy on a Friday afternoon despite having tickets booked to fly the following day. When visas were not issued in time, the government was blamed. “It is misleading to suggest that the government issues visas. That responsibility lies entirely with the relevant authorities,” Gamage stressed.
The Minister emphasized that federations must apply for visas well in advance before purchasing tickets. “Athletes are not selected at the last minute. Adequate time is provided to apply for visas and make travel arrangements, including for major events such as the Asian Games. Yet, in some cases, tickets are purchased even before visa applications are submitted,” he explained.
He acknowledged that several similar incidents have occurred recently and said inquiries are being conducted. However, he cautioned against punitive measures. “We cannot simply ban sports associations. We must continue to work with them constructively to resolve these issues,” he stated.
Reiterating his position, Gamage added: “The Sports Ministry cannot intervene in the visa process for athletes. We can only request that applications be expedited. Visa authorities have minimum processing periods, and if those requirements are not met, there is nothing further we can do. This is the core issue behind these delays.” (Newswire)
