The contest for the post of President of Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA), at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is scheduled to commence on 16 August, is expected to be a four-cornered tussle, according to informed sources.
The sources said the post is to be contested among four prominent individuals, and they being veteran national coach Sunil Gunawardena, the incumbent head of the National Athletics Selection Committee and ex-DIG Upali Kumarasiri, former national record holder for Shot Put and Discus throwing Talavou Alailima, and the current head of the Mercantile Athletics Federation K.A. Prasanna Indika, respectively.
The current President of SLA Major General Palitha Fernando (Retd.), is unlikely to seek re-election to the post at the forthcoming election having served since 2017, and due to him being prohibited from doing so, as per the new regulations gazetted with the Sports Law by the Sports Minister last May.
Sunil Gunawardena has previously helmed Sri Lanka Athletics, with Prasanna Indika being a sitting Vice President of the SLA.
Alailima – a household name in the domestic athletics sphere and the Founder cum CEO of Power World Gyms, has also been a former Vice President of the sport’s governing body here, when it was then known as the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL).
In the meantime, current Secretary of the SLA, Saman Kumara Gunawardana has so far not confirmed whether he too intends to follow in the footsteps of his outgoing President and refrain from seeking re-election.
However, informed sources added that a medical professional serving in the Medical Unit attached to the Sports Ministry, has already indicated his intention to contest the said post at its next election of office bearers.
The calling of nominations for the SLA Annual General Meeting is due to commence on 26 July, while the three-member Election Committee consists of Retired High Court Judge Wimal Nambuwasam, Retired High Court Judge K.M.G. Kulathunga and ex-Sports Assistant Director R. B. Wickremasinghe, respectively.
Be the first to comment