Hockey body sacked

By Susil Premalal

The administration of hockey, once a popular family-followed sport, has been sacked by Sports Minister Sunil Gamage and its registration suspended until an election of office bearers for proper governance can be conducted.

The decision has been taken by the Minister under the powers granted by Sections 32 and 33 of the amended Sports Act No. 25 of 1973, with the relevant Extraordinary Gazette Notification (No. 2489/48) already issued.

The administrations of two other sports, handball and carom, have also been shown the door pending elections.

According to the Ministry, the move is aimed to modernising the existing Constitutions of the associations and facilitating the election of new office-bearers through a transparent process.

Consequently, the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports, Arun Bandara, has been appointed to oversee the administration of the three associations until new office-bearers are elected at the respective annual general meetings conducted under the amended Constitutions.

For the record, the administration of two other sports, cricket and gymnastics are also under a government appointed committee or supervision until a new Constitution can be implemented in keeping with international demands.

Rugby had also been under government control for two years until an election of office bearers was held last year.