Director General of Sports Dammika Muthugala stated that Sri Lanka has paid 73 million Sri Lankan rupees to the South Asian Olympic committee for make preparations and arrangements for the Sri Lanka contingents a few months ago but disorganization by the host country has caused a few issues when the teams arrived in Kathmandu.
Speaking at a special media conference organized for the Sri Lankan Journalists at Everest Hotel in Kathmandu, Muthugala said, “There are some disputes but Nepal as a neighbor and friendly nation we should co-operate with the organizing committees for the successes of the 13th South Asian Games”.
“As a Ministry we have done our maximum and we disappointed and regret the issues faced by the athletes. The government has spent nearly Rs. 100,000 each in preparing the athletes after finalizing the pool and a further Rs. 123 million for air tickets,” he said.
Muthugala stated that only 24 officials and not 100 (as stated in some sections of the media) from the Ministry of Sports are part of the contingent and said that apart from them there were four officials who were included from the Examination department because six athletes were sitting the G.C.E. ordinary level examination. They will do their examination at the Sri Lanka embassy in Kathmandu.
Muthugala further stated the Ministry of Sports has requested the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka to hold an inquiry into the accident suffered by elite athlete Nimali Liyanarachchi which deprived her from participating at the ongoing SAG.
“We want to know why pooled athletes venture out of the hotel without any reason. We have given them all the facilities at the Sugathadasa Stadium but why do athletes travel out of the hotel using motor bikes which has led to the accident,” Muthugala said.
General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Maxwell de Silva also present at the press conference said that Sri Lanka cannot blame the host country for the poor facilities.
“Only the athletic team has issues as they are looking for more privileges than other sports. We regret the incident but as a Sri Lanka we should also think about the Games rather than blaming Nepal who has done their maximum.”
He further stated that NOCSL has issued 771 accreditations for Sri Lankans to participate at the SAG.
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