Sports Minister Harin Fernando has appointed a seven-member committee to evaluate the selections and nominations made for Sri Lanka’s contingent for the South Asian Games (SAG), to establish if proper procedure had been followed.

Sri Lanka’s athletics contingent alone is expected to be around 600, with around 300 officials also being considered.

Among the 300 officials are 32 Sports Ministry Officials who have been nominated for the SAG which has seen a significant addition to the Sports Ministry’s expenses for the games.

The committee will look into the names of both athletes and officials, to justify if their presence at the SAG is justified.

The Minister, in a letter addressed to his Secretary Chulananda Perera, which the Daily Mirror has seen, appointed Perera to lead the seven-member committee which would need to report back to him by November 18.

Perera has been named as the Chairperson of the Committee that also includes Dhammika Mutugalla - Director-General of the Department of Sports Development, Attorney at Law Panduka Keerthinanda - Legal Advisor to the Minister, I. P. Wijeratne - Director of the Department of Sports Development and a representative each from the National Sports Council, the National Olympic Committee and the National Selection Committee.

Sports Minister Harin Fernando confirmed the appointment of the committee, based on numerous objections against the selections.

“There were so many objections (to selections) and also complaints about the huge contingency of Sports Ministry officials who wanted to go.”

“I wanted them to give me a report in regards to all the objections that have been raised,” Minister Fernando told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

The Minister added that while they were looking to limit the number in the overall contingency, he would ultimately ensure that as many athletes can participate at the games.

Mutugalla had last week written to the Sports Minister seeing his approval for the 32-member Sports Ministry contingent, which was highlighted in this paper. (SMD)