SLB AGM portends far reaching changes in governance
Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 31 at the 80 Club, with a near perfect attendance by its affiliates. The AGM was deferred from the original date, March 31, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and countrywide shutdown.
Whilst there was no election of office bearers since this was only the first year in a four-year term, the AGM was conducted in a very cordial and focused manner, with changes being proposed to the existing constitution, through a draft constitution that had been previously circulated to the affiliates.
The amendments were necessitated as far back as 2017, due to the requirements of the Sports Law. The amendments whilst incorporating the required changes under the Sports law, also goes further, in recommending to the membership, the conversion to an islandwide structure from Provincial to District Associations. This would mean that development of badminton will extend through to areas which otherwise would not have had such benefits, not due to any fault of the Provincial Associations, but due to the concentration of such Associations, mainly in the main cities. It is common knowledge that some of the best athletes emanate from the hinterland and this expansion will provide more opportunity and focus for development.
SLB President, Rohan de Silva informed all present that a workshop would be held during the month of August, to further discuss the proposed draft constitution in detail, so that all shades of opinion can be considered, and a consensus amongst all affiliates arrived at. Fundamentally, what is being envisaged is a new constitution, which will concentrate on a qualitative approach with long-term goals, thus ensuring the vast development of the sport of badminton. The draft constitution has been submitted keeping with the template of the model constitution recommended by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Meanwhile, the senior national pool commenced training on Friday, based on the players accepting a Code of Conduct, under the tutelage of two BWF Level 2 coaches, Shimal Aponso and Pradeep Welagedera. The physical status of all players, post COVID-19 is under review and a special nutrition programme, has been contracted with Hela-Keto, a specialist agency run by a team of doctors led by Dr Subash Mendis.
The National Pool and Training Committee (NPTC) under the chairmanship of veteran administrator Palitha Hettiarachchi, intends to focus on a squad of 10 top players, for international duty in 2021, with the aim of acquiring world ranking within thresholds of 50 and 100 and further improvements thereafter, on an extensive programme sponsored by LiNing.