The sudden change in the Football Federation of Sri Lanka’s (FFSL) data system, including its email addresses, at a time when an administrative transition is taking place, has led to much controversy in the football field.
The Human Resources Division of the Football Federation Headquarters had sent a WhatsApp message on the 24th stating that all its e-mail addresses will be renewed, and therefore the existing email addresses will not be functioning for a while.
There have been strong criticisms and serious accusations regarding the transactions of the Football Federation under the previous administration recently.
Therefore, the sudden changes of the official email addresses which contain sensitive data has raised suspicion among many in the field.
According to the extraordinary gazette 2297/94 issued by the Sports Ministry on 17.09.2022, the Football Federation authorities were allowed to hold their offices until October 31st. However, the Sports Minister cancelled the said gazette notification on the 21st.
People in the field are raising the question whether this sudden change had been made in order to destroy the evidence regarding financial irregularities amounting to millions of rupees that had taken place at the Federation.
It was also reported that an amount of USD 30,000 that should be credited to the account of the Football Federation had been credited to a personal account.
Meanwhile, a complaint had been lodged with the Cinnamon Gardens Police on the 23rd over some previous officials staying at the Football Federation headquarters when their term had ended.
Test Captain Dimuth Karunaratna says he informed the SLC selection committee that he wishes to step down from the captaincy after 2-match series against Ireland next month.
“I have informed the selectors that its good to appoint a new captain for the new test cycle, so I am ready step down after the Ireland series,” Dimuth Karunaratne has said.
“I am yet to here from selectors what they think about my decision, but I feel I need to give the new captain to start from the beginning of the new test cycle, rather me stepping down from the middle of it,” he added.
Over 250 female athletes arrived in Sri Lanka for the challenging ‘Raid Amazones’ adventure event that will take place in March 2023 in Sri Lanka.
Raid Amazones will hit the fabled streets of the hill capital, Kandy with the participation of over 250 female athletes.
Raid Amazones is a coveted annual destination adventure event originating from France, which features female athletes competing their way through a range of challenges such as orienteering, mountain biking, canoeing, riding, running and archery.
Sri Lanka was chosen over rival destinations by the event’s founders due to the unparalleled warmth of its people and support on ground to pull off a successful event. Their decision is also down to SriLankan Airline’s tireless marketing efforts to secure the popular trail on successive occasions for Sri Lanka in its hour of need for international tourism support.
During the 21st edition of the trail, the participants will be able to connect with a potpourri of natural and historical highlights as they trek through the Kandyan plateau in Central Sri Lanka.
Their journey, though, would begin from the moment that they step onboard SriLankan Airlines to fly from Paris to Colombo, on an aircraft with custom livery dedicated to Raid Amazones 2023.
Named as a UNESCO world heritage site, Kandy, the iconic setting of Raid Amazones 2023, is renowned for two of the most recognizable cultural symbols that define Sri Lanka.
The first one is the Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Buddha, which, as the name suggests, houses the Tooth Relic of the Gauthama Buddha, and is considered the epitome of Kandyan architecture.
The second, being the ‘Kandy Esala Perahera,’ which adorns the livery of the aircraft that will fly down the athletes. Believed to be one of the longest continuing processions in the world, the ‘Perahera’ that takes place in August every year, dates back to the 310 A.D. It is a rich cultural display and a collection of symbolism of lore and traditions.
SriLankan Airlines partnered Raid Amazones in 2022 soon after recommencing operations to Paris.
SriLankan Airlines, together with Connaissance de Ceylan, the official ground handling partner of the event, will go all out to ensure that the French group experiences the best in Sri Lankan hospitality.
The airline and Sri Lanka are likely to gain over EUR 10 million worth of publicity globally from the 21st edition this year.
‘Raid Amazones’ will especially help create more awareness of Sri Lanka as an adventure travel hotspot in France and the rest of Europe, where Raid Amazones is sought-after, and attract adventure-seekers.