Three Netball positions face protests at elections
Several District Netball Associations are getting ready to stage protests against three main positions of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation to the Netball Election Committee and the Ministry of Sports. The positions they are opposing are: the President’s post, Vice Presidents post and the Secretary’s post.
There are several former national netball players amongst the protesters.
Three former officials have come forward for the president’s post. They are Sherine Kumaratunga, Laxmi Victoria (Vice President, uncontested) and Secretary, Champa Gunewardena. It is stated in the Sports Law that those who come forward for elections should have represented the sport at national level. But these three candidates have not played at National Level, claim the protesters.
Laxmi Victoria, who was President of the Netball Federation in 2013, 2014, has not forwarded approved Auditor General’s report, at that time. This is also against the Sports Law, claim the protesters.
The protesters also state that a special inquiry should also be held against those who had certified their nominations.
Nominations closed on April 10 and after a long delay, they were opened on May 8. Up-to-date the nominations list has not been sent to affiliate associations. The protesters claim that underhand activities had taken place during that time. Even a date for objections has not been presented to date.
Plans are now afoot to stage the AGM on May 30 and audit reports have to be submitted a fortnight prior to the AGM. Up to last Saturday the audit reports have not been received. The netball AGM was earlier scheduled to be held on April 29 but due to the fact that the audit reports were not received had been the cause for the delay.
Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has informed all associations that the AGMs should be held before May 31, 2017. But about 20 associations have not been able to produce the final audit reports.
Sports such as volleyball, athletics and several other sports bodies also face this problem, it is learnt reliably.