By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Sports Minister Harin Fernando, in accordance with powers vested with him under the Sports Act, and has appointed a new Sports Council headed by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera replacing its former chairman Arjuna Ranatunga.
Dr. Maiya Gunasekera an old royalist rugby doyen excelled in basket ball and athletics with an indepth knowledge in sports who held the chairmanship of national sports council thrice has to come back again to clear the mess in Sri Lanka’s key sports.
He rendered a yeoman service in cleaning sports administration including cricket rugby foot ball and athletics as and he was appointed to head the sports council under former ministers Gamini Lokuge, C.B.Ratnayake and Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
Dr Maiya volunteered services as a surgeon at the battle front during North East war and saved a number of officers and men who were severely injured
His appoinyment to the helm local sports council is positive sign of resurging cricket rugby and foot ball administration tainted in corruption and irregularities tarnishing the countrys image in sports internationally.
Respected sports administrator Dr Maiya’s very first tasks are to work with the sports ministry to persuade the ICC to lift the cricket ban against Sri Lanka,ensure the country’s participation in the upcoming Asian Games 2023, due to the stalemate position of the governing body, Sri Lanka Rugby Assopciation (SLRA).
The Expert Study Committee appointed to recommend a new Sports Act in Sri Lanka has submitted its report to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Committee, chaired by. Jagath Fernando anothr royalist rugby giant, has made a number of recommendations to comprehensively change the existing legal framework and administrative structure for sports in Sri Lanka.
One of the primary recommendations of the Committee is to establish a National Sports Development Authority (NSDA) to regulate and supervise all sports development activities in the country.
The NSDA would be responsible for formulating policies and strategies for sports development, and would have full supervision over National Sports Associations.
Although the Sports Law has been criticised much in recent times, it is unlikely to undergo major changes in the new proposals.
The much is dependent from Dr Maiya Gunasekera in making radical changes for the revival of sports in Sri Lanka as he has learned of books and men, and learned to play the game from Royal College Colombo.
Doctor Indrajith Maiya Gunasekera a leading surgeon by profession, well known as ‘Maiya’ both in the field of Sports and Medical fraternity is one of them who excelled in both fields.
In 1972 he was called for National duties soon after he joined the Colombo Medical College as a medical student.
While attending classes there he also engaged himself in rugby and played in the third and fourth Rugby Asiad held in Hong Kong and Sri Lanka respectively, under Y.C.Chang’s captaincy.
He joined CR and FC in 1978 and went on to play until 1981. He finally called it a day as a rugby player and opted to get into administration and coaching.
His first assignment was coaching his school from 1992 to 1995 during which he produced several talented players who donned the National jersey while transforming some of them as doctors.
Coinciding with coaching Royal he was assigned as the National Rugby coach from 1993/94 season for the Hong Kong sevens team
He completed his entire medical career while involved in sports which is a rare occasion never happened before and will never happen again.
