18 September 2023 01:10 pm Views - 4402
In response to a question raised by journalists at a media conference, whether politics was involved in Sri Lanka’s defeat in the Asia Cup Final on Sunday, an MP from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said an investigation has to be conducted to determine the reasons for it.
SJB National Organizer and Member of Parliament Tissa Attanayake came out with this remark whether Sri Lanka’s defeat on Sunday was a birthday gift for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose birthday fell on Sunday, September 17, 2023.
“Everyone expected a keenly fought encounter on Sunday but it was not so, as the match ended within few hours. I don’t want to describe the defeat as it will affect the morale of our players. However, an investigation has to be conducted to determine whether there has been any politics involved in the defeat.
“We are deeply disappointed and saddened with the defeat Sri Lanka has suffered,” he added.
Asked whether the Sports Ministry should be entrusted with the task of carrying out an investigation, the MP said the Ministry is hampered with scams.
“The Sports Ministry officials were summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently after the auditor general had revealed several scams. It has been revealed that no stadium has been found in Kilinochchi though the annual performance report of the Sports Ministry had revealed that it has spent millions for a new stadium in the North, while the Ministry has not been able to produce a proper balance sheet to reveal its assets and liabilities. Can the Sports Ministry conduct a probe on the Asia Cup defeat under such circumstances?” he questioned. (Yohan Perera)