10 March 2021 12:00 am
By Susil Premalal
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has decided to conduct 25 cycling races in each district from April.
Organised by the District Associations affiliated to the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL), it will also be an opportunity for the Sports Ministry to see how the district bodies function, the Sports Minister had said.
The Minister is keen to identify which of the District Associations affiliated to the CFSL only exist by name and for voting purposes by requesting them to organise a cycling race in each district.
There are nine District Associations affiliated to the CFSL which are active. They are Anuradhapura, Galle, Colombo, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Kegalle, Gampaha, Ratnapura and Kandy. The remaining 16 district bodies have been inactive for several years.
Meanwhile, CFSL has issued licences for riders until 2019. As a result, the licences of 350 riders have expired and they have been unable to renew their licences for the past two years.
Since the CFSL stands suspended until election of office-bearers are held on April 6, the Sports Ministry has called for nominations. Two veteran riders B.J. Sumanasekera from Colombo District and H.L. Krishantha from Galle District have submitted their nominations for the post of President.
The only international cycling umpire in South Asia N. Karunaratne was elected as President of the CFSL in 2018 but after the intervention of then Sports Minister his services were suspended.