Appointment of Netball National Coach was done according to Sports Law: NFSL President

By Hishan Welmilla

The accusation made by Netball Coaches Association President Hyacinth Wijesinghe against the administration of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka on the appointment of the National Coach are baseless, says Netball Federation of Sri Lanka President Trixi Nanayakkara. 

Hyacinth Wijesinghe has quoted in our sister newspaper Lankadeepa that the appointment of Thilaka Jinadasa till 2020 Asian Championship by the Minister of Sports is against the Constitution of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka. 

She pointed out that a similar situation arose in 2001 when she was given the extension till the world cup after winning the Asian Championship but it was turned down by then President of Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, Trixi Nanayakkara who has obliged the minister’s directions holding the netball top position this time.

But Trixi Nanayakkara speaking to Daily FT has pointed out that the extension was not provided to Hyacinth Wijesinghe as the Sri Lankan National Coach after winning the Asian Championship in 2001 as Wijesinghe was under a disciplinary inquiry based on the report forwarded by the team manager of the Sri Lankan netball team that took part in the 2001 Asian Championship held in Sri Lanka.

After the inquiry upheld by a three-member disciplinary committee, Hyacinth was found guilty and her contract was terminated, Nanayakkara further said. 

“I don’t like to mention the accusations against Hyacinth for which she was found guilty. The decision of terminating her contract as the national coach was not my personal decision. It was taken by the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka as the governing body,” Nanayakkara pointed out.

Apart from that Nanayakkara says that the extension of the contract of the netball national coach by the Minister of Sports was purely a decision made by the Minster based on the powers restored on him under the Sports Law of Sri Lanka.