Sri Lanka Athletics has made two key adjustments to its constitution that will change the eligibility criteria for top posts of the governing body. Sri Lanka Athletics at a Special General Meeting amended the constitution in a bid to stop ‘total outsiders contesting for top posts of the track and field sports body’.
“Winning a top position at a national level competition at junior or senior category is a must to be eligible to run for top positions of Sri Lanka Athletics now,” Saman Kumara Gunawardana, the secretary of Sri Lanka Athletics told ‘The Island’.
“So far there was no regulation pertaining to competition experience to be eligible to be elected to the executive committee of the association. It was agreed at the Special General Meeting to make competition experience a prerequisite to run for top posts,” said Gunawardana.
Conferring to the new amendments, those running for top posts ‘excluding the treasurer and assistant treasurer posts should have participated in more than one track and field event and secured first, second or third place at a top national level competition’.
Those podium positions should have been achieved at Junior National Championship, Sir John Tarbat Championship, All Island Schools Games, Senior National Championship, National Youth Athletics Championship, and Provincial Championships of the National Sports Festival or at International competitions recommended and approved by Sri Lanka Athletics and the Ministry of Sports.
Amendments were also made to the suitability of voting rights of member clubs and affiliated district associations. Apart from providing the annual financial statement and report of the AGM the member clubs and associations are required to conduct at least three out of the five following events for it to be eligible to vote at the AGM. They are the Annual Championship, Coaching Camp, Coaches’ Seminars or Workshop, Technical Official Workshop and participation of minimum 10 athletes at the National Championship or Junior National Championship.
The new amendments have come at a crucial juncture as the current term of incumbent officials is set to end mid next year. Sri Lanka Athletics is required to conduct its election of office bearers before end May 2025.
The new amendments will also affect some members of the current executive committee of Sri Lanka Athletics consisting of 13 members.
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