The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports has granted its approval to the regulations, prepared under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, National Sports Associations Regulations, which are scheduled to be taken up for debate in the upcoming Parliamentary week.

The approval was granted when the Committee met in Parliament recently (07), chaired by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, which was attended by Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara, and Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne.

During the meeting, Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage pointed out that these new regulations have been prepared to avoid shortcomings and issues that existed in the regulations previously prepared under the Sports Law, and that they have been formulated with the overall aim of developing all sports associations and the advancement of sports in general.

Accordingly, the maximum period for which the positions of President, Secretary, and Treasurer of a sports federation can be held has been limited to 8 years. It has also been stipulated that elections should be held once every two years, with this period being determined in consideration of the standards adopted by international federations. 

Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage further stated that there had previously been allegations regarding misconduct committed by holding positions in sports federations for extended periods, and that this measure would put an end to such situations.

Furthermore, provisions have been included through these regulations to ensure that at least two women are given the opportunity to participate in federations relating to women’s sports. 

The Chairman of the Committee further stated that these regulations would create a new sports culture and that all parties involved in sports have expressed positive responses to these new regulations.

During this meeting, Members of Parliament drew the Committee’s attention to existing issues related to youth affairs and sports activities. Accordingly, relevant officials were instructed to provide necessary solutions to these matters. (Newswire)

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Minister of Sports Harin Fernando says the move to suspend four sports federations was taken for the limited purpose of holding the Elections of Office bearers.

He stressed that the Government maintains that it will not appoint any interim committees for any Sports Federation.

Minister Harin Fernando’s comments come after a Gazette notification was issued on Wednesday (May 29) suspending four Sports Federations. 

As per the Gazette, the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation, Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, Sri Lanka Automobile Federation and Sri Lanka Netball Federation were suspended with effect from May 29, 2024.

The Gazette further announced the appointment of Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, the Director General of the Department of Sports Development, as the competent authority with effect from Wednesday.

“The measure had been taken as a temporary mechanism to proceed with administrative and other required activities of the said National Association/ Federation of Sports and to call and conduct relevant elections as well as to perform the duties appropriately until then,” the Gazette read. (Newswire) 

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