Sports bodies form Association of Sports Federations Society to combat corruption

The Association of Sports Federations Society (ASFS), comprising members affiliated to a number of well-established Sporting Federations, was introduced to the sports loving public of Sri Lanka this week.

The main objective of the ASFS, which has been registered with the Registrar of Companies, is to get all those involved in administering sports in Sri Lanka to come together to create a Multi Sports Culture and thereby develop and enhance the concept of ‘Sports for All’.

“This is a new forum that will challenge and fight for transparency, inclusiveness and fair play, so that Sri Lankans have a better future for sports in this country,” stated head of Sri Lanka Boxing Dian Gomes, one of the body’s founding members.

“We want an inclusive sporting fraternity free of corruption. Over the years we have tried our best to create this situation, where there is transparency, financial accountability and a proper policy for this country to move forward. Unfortunately other than some medals that we’ve been winning on and off at the commonwealth games, we have not been able to pursue any of the dreams, where I feel with the right policy, right transparency and the right focus, Sri Lankans can be world beaters.”

Rohan Fernando, the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) President, who had lost out in the 2018 National Olympic Committee election in contentious circumstances, stated that this body was the continuation of the vow he had made following his defeat a year earlier.

“Our motto is a healthy mind in a healthy body. If the body is not healthy, the mind won’t be and vice versa. We gave a really good go in 2018 to turn around this state of affairs and bring about an end to these corrupt practices,” stated Fernando, at an event announcing the official launch of the new body on Wednesday.

“But once we lost the election, we said that we would give the new administration the benefit of the doubt and see if they would deliver on their promises. We gave them a year to do the right thing, because we have always said that we will never stand in the way of people trying to do the right thing. But it’s precisely because they have failed to do that that we have now decided to form this body.”

A media release added: “To be successful in achieving these challenging and important tasks, the principles of transparency accountability in governance and strengthening of stake holdings and partnerships must be brought to the forefront, without giving priority to any personal agendas.

“ASFS expects to provide support and advice to all members of Sports Associations registered with the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka, to help overcome practical issues with regard to popularising and developing their respective sports, as well as become a voice of support for them.”