ATHLETICS AGM TODAY

Today is the Election Day for electing new office bearers to the Sri Lanka Athletic Association:
The atmosphere is much tensed:

The area surrounding the Department of Sports Development has been made a security Zone:
Sugath and Susanthika to contest for post of Vice President:

The election of ne office bearers is to be held today at the main hall of the National Institute of Sports Science to elect new officers for the Sri Lanka Athletic Association ay 11.00 a.m
Hitherto the voting had been done by a secret voting system. But this year the pattern has been changed and it is to be held with complete transparency with a voting system. Hence some of them are very prominent personalities in the Athletic arena have withdrawn their nominations. This year they propose to appoint 6 Vice-Presidents. Among them ho are contesting are Sugath and Susanthika, two prominent athletes who have brought laurels to our country in this field.
This AGM to appoint new office bearers would be administered by the Officers of the Department of Sports Development. They propose to elect a new President, an Assistant Secretary, a Statistician, 6 Vice/Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer.
Sri Lanka Army’s Chief of Staff Major General Daya Ratnayake, prominent sports officer Bernard Perera, Sports Director of Kelaniya University P.G.U Saman Kumara is to contest for the post of official statistician. For the post of Vice-President 14 persons had sent in nominations for 6 posts of Vice-Presidents. However it is learnt that 3 persons have already withdrawn their nomination papers.
A former Vice President Colonel Sudath Madugalle and Shemal Perera who were to contest for the Secretary’s post also have withdrawn. Ranjith Perera who had submitted his nomination papers have not been allowed to contest as he does not possess the required qualifications. Accordingly 6 persons are contesting for 11 posts at the election.
For the post of Vice President, a former President Sunil Jayaweera, P.H.D Waidyatillke, Ajith Abeysundara, Ajit Narangala, T.M.Devendra , Anil Weerasinghe, N.A.I.Jayasinghe ,Susanthika Jayasinghe, Sugath Tillekaratna,H.W.Nimalsiri and Upul Kumarasiri are contesting for the post of Vice Presidents.
For the post of Assistant Treasurer Oliver Fernando and H.A.Upali are to contest. It was announced that as earlier that this election as to be conducted by a secret vote. However Officials of the Department of Sports Development had conveyed that owing to objections and suggestions made by certain candidates, this election should have transparency. In this context the situation at the election is bound to be very tensed.ith this situation the area of the Torrington Square has been made a Security Zone. The assistance of the Cinnamon gardens Police has been sought.
The election of the office bearers as to be held on the 27th March as decided by the committee of the Athletic Association. For 5 consecutive years the President was Major General Palitha Fernando in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.He had requested to remain as President for the 6th consecutive year. Owing to this conflict in the administration the election had to be postponed.
However certain quarters of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association had objected to this proposal as this system flouts and opposes other rules laid in the constitution. It is made to understand a very keen contest is expected in for the post of Secretary.
On the 19th of April the Director General of Sports Development Ranjani Jayakody called for nominations from the candidates who wished to contest to be held today the 3rd May. Prominent figures in the Athletics Administration Prema Pinnawela and Shemal Perera have handed over the nomination papers to contest for the post of President. The stiffest contest is the appointment of a Secretary. It is reliably learnt from well informed sources that there is a lot of pressure and influence from various religious, political and administrative personnel for this contest. Hence there is a lot of interest at a very high level for this election.