SLSBA raises concerns over SLB’s handling of overseas tours involving schoolchildren
The Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association (SLSBA) has expressed serious concern over the conduct of its parent body, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), particularly in relation to the preparation and selection of players and officials for overseas assignments.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Education in charge of Sports and Physical Education at the Ministry of Education, the SLSBA questioned the transparency of SLB, highlighting several incidents that occurred during recent foreign tours involving schoolchildren.
“SLB seeks the opinion of SLSBA only during the process of obtaining necessary prior authorisations from higher authorities, such as the Ministry of Education, when it comes to foreign tours. However, we urge that the Ministry of Education summon the relevant SLB officials and educate them on proper procedure, at least from the next intended foreign tour,” states the letter signed by Hasitha Kesara Weththimuni, President of the SLSBA.
The letter, dated July 25, 2025, outlines SLSBA’s mounting concerns in relation to the forthcoming Badminton Asia Regional Championship 2025, scheduled to be held from 15 to 22 August in Bhutan. The SLSBA President highlights several key issues: the player selection process for national representation, the appointment of officials—particularly for foreign tours involving schoolchildren—the conduct of certain SLB team officials during recent international assignments, and the repeated appointment of the same coaches for consecutive tours.
Traditionally, the national governing body of a sport becomes the ultimate custodian of any national team, regardless of age category or gender, when representing the country at international events. However, when schoolchildren are involved in overseas competitions—especially junior or youth events at regional or global levels—the parent body is expected to follow a responsible and clearly defined process.
This process should involve close collaboration with the Schools Section throughout—from obtaining the necessary permissions and collecting documentation from the selected athletes’ schools, to handling sensitive matters involving the Ministry of Education before, during, and after an international tour. The letter references more than four incidents from recent overseas tours involving schoolchildren, where various obstacles had to be confronted. Among these incidents was one where team officials used children to smuggle goods without paying customs duty during last year’s World Junior Badminton Championship. More recently, players were forced to pay an additional Rs. 180,000 after missing a connecting flight in Indonesia—an error caused by the incompetence of the team manager.
“We, as the SLSBA—the governing body for schools badminton—have had to, and will continue to, manage delicate situations, as we are accountable to the children, their parents, and their schools regarding safety and other concerns. There are certain areas where the SLSBA can find common ground, but there remains a significant disparity when it comes to the transparency of SLB. We hope to reach a mutual understanding for the benefit of the schoolchildren and to play a more significant role in the overall process of international tours. We look forward to the Ministry’s assistance in arriving at a comprehensive solution,” the letter concludes.