Olympic Silver Medal: Susanthika suspends auction sale

5 June 2017 07:19 pm - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Following President Maithripala Sirisena's intervention, Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe has decided to put on hold her decision to auction the silver medal she won in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

She told Daily Mirror that an officer from presidential secretariat had informed her over the phone that the President would look into the matter.

Ms. Jayasinghe said the Sports Minister had suspended her salary since April, and therefore she decided to auction her silver medal.

She is an adviser to the sports ministry but she complained that she had not even given a place to work at the ministry.

“The minister accuses of me for obtaining a salary without working. Though I was appointed an adviser, I have not been told what to do. The ministry is not making use of my talents,” Ms. Jayasinghe said.

She said the Sport Minister knows only to sling mud at her and has charged that she was attempting to settle down in Australia after selling the medal.

“If I want to settle abroad, I would have chosen US as I have a multiple visa for myself and my child. I want to stay in Sri Lanka. However, what I said was that if Sri Lanka does not value my talents, it is better to work even as a labourer in Australia where I won the medal,” Ms. Jayasinghe said. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

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Comments - 31

anu Monday, 05 June 2017 11:08 PM

please make use of the talents for betterment of the country.they deserve a decent living and salary. if the ministers and parliamentarian can enjoy perks from the government preaching Pacha and not having qualifications , Susantika deserve a lot what had given to the country back which we can't dream of as of today. If she apply a foreign citizenship , there would be many countries will honor request by granting visa but our narrow minded politician do not realize the value those who make the country proud .

Sambo Thursday, 08 June 2017 08:11 PM

Dear Lady. What goes around come around. That's life

JR Tuesday, 06 June 2017 05:35 PM

she is thousand times better than the wheeler dealer politicians of today

Niran Tuesday, 06 June 2017 05:29 PM

She is playing her cards to obtain benefits that she is not entitled to and no doubt financed by the poor taxpayers! You already received a new house from the taxpayers. What more do you want?

lokka Tuesday, 06 June 2017 05:22 PM

can you settle down in foreign with multiple visa ? don't try to fool everyone madam

ThinkNow Tuesday, 06 June 2017 05:02 PM

A bunch of ministers and parliament members are getting paid handsomely for nothing, isn't it ?

JOE Tuesday, 06 June 2017 04:49 PM

SHAME ON SRI LANKA !!

Ashwin Tuesday, 06 June 2017 04:18 PM

Pls know your history beofore talking. Duncan white was a Sri Lankan he studied at Trinity Kandy , His father was also a sri Lankan not a Brit . Just because he had European ancestry does not mean he is british, zdid you check your gens to find you have African or Somali genes or a send your DNA for sequencing anda Molecular taxonomy study?

usaguy Tuesday, 06 June 2017 04:13 PM

madam your multiple visa to usa doesnt mean you can settle down there. thats just a visit visa. via DM Android App

usaguy Tuesday, 06 June 2017 02:41 PM

try Seeni Boley he might pay good money for the medal. via DM Android App

kk Tuesday, 06 June 2017 02:41 PM

I don't see any wrong paying Susanthika a salary for doing nothing. She has done something no other Sri Lanka has ever done. except for Duncan white. For me her achievement is bigger than 1996 world cup win.

Tusitha Tuesday, 06 June 2017 02:26 PM

Do some work and collect a pay. You can't be crying fowl and seeking attention . You have been featured for many reasons in the media during the recent past. Not becoming of a Olympic Medalist.They have agreed to make a payment, now go justify by doing your part

yahiya Tuesday, 06 June 2017 10:13 AM

She is blind. Never thanking to President

Hiran Tuesday, 06 June 2017 09:22 AM

She was rewarded handsomely for her achievement. But she squandered that wealth on politics. Now she wants more. For Christs sake she is an Olympic medalist. She can run an athletic camp or offer her services to a school to be an athletic instructor. Why is she asking handouts from the government?

nalin Tuesday, 06 June 2017 09:18 AM

I think both parties have to bear partial responsibility for the present predicament. Susanthika could not handle fame and exposure properly due to her background. She should have been assisted in this. On the other hand what is Rs.60, 000/- per month when you compare what average cricketers earn. And cricket is not a world sport. It is a sport being played at the highest level by around 10-15-countries unlike athletics which has competitors from almost 200 countries.

cabraal Tuesday, 06 June 2017 09:07 AM

SP is most suitable for Sports Ministry.

Jamalji Monday, 05 June 2017 07:34 PM

Who will buy this ?

Dee Monday, 05 June 2017 10:52 PM

Contest the next elections!

shantha.gamlath Monday, 05 June 2017 10:50 PM

It is good topic for a open discussion ......

Selvyn Monday, 05 June 2017 10:28 PM

Though she is talented she is bloody arrogant. We see the minister has taken some steps to redress her grievances via DM Android App

Mason Monday, 05 June 2017 10:13 PM

The fact remains that you have been paid a salary for no work done. The "stunt" to sell the silver medal was to attract attention, because the money realised from the ;sales; would not have amounted more than a few thousand rupees !

Eric Monday, 05 June 2017 09:49 PM

He only show off and still waiting to join MR at the First opportunity he get. Cannot understand why he is still the sport minister. We know what happen to our cricket. Doing under hand things to discredit the Yahapalanaya.

nick Monday, 05 June 2017 09:21 PM

she definitely had the talent back in 2000 but that was then & she is proving her medal is nothing when it comes to money very cheap of her treating the medal for paper currency now people will not anymore respect her via DM Android App

AjithZ Monday, 05 June 2017 08:47 PM

I don't know why the sports minister behaving like this. We respect you as the greatest Sri Lankan athlete ever up to now (Duncan White is British though ran under the Sri Lankan flag). Hope that the president can sort this out asap.

rdf Monday, 05 June 2017 08:41 PM

If you were given a job please do some work. The way you talk brings disgrace to you, and only to you.

ceylon Monday, 05 June 2017 08:29 PM

it is up to her to auction what she has.her contribution hounered with a expensive home from the srilankan people.to be advicer she must be expert which she is not. via DM Android App

ceylon Monday, 05 June 2017 08:26 PM

this is the traditional srilanka way.she was given a valuble home as a gift from lankan people.she can runshe nevet learn ti ve advicer about sports.she is asking free money. via DM Android App

Upul Monday, 05 June 2017 08:21 PM

You are an Olympic medal winner for Sri Lanka. That is a very proud achievement for the country, and the entire country is grateful to you for that. This doesnt mean that the Govt. has to look after you and your family with a regular monthly payment for ever. If that is what you expect from the Govt. then it is kind of expecting more for what you have done. The Sports Ministry has offered you a decent salaried job for you and I think it is a fair compensation. Please try to work out with the Ministry and use your skills to improve your position.

Royce Monday, 05 June 2017 08:00 PM

Very very disappointing via DM Android App

Shan Monday, 05 June 2017 07:52 PM

Susanthika is courageous to challenge the incumbent rulers for justice.

Bala Monday, 05 June 2017 07:48 PM

Yes the Sports Minister is only interested in Cricket as the SLC panders to his needs.

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Olympic Silver Medal: Susanthika suspends auction sale

Comments - 31

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