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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Sydney Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, who almost gave up her athletic career after threats and a confrontation with two fellow Sri Lanka athletes, is to come out of the shell and resume training by this weekend.

Jayasinghe's decision to change her mind and get back to spikes again has been prompted by the latest move of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to take complete care of the 25-year-old celebrated Lankan woman athlete. A senior official of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports said yesterday that Minister Johnston Fernando is keen to give all assistance to Jayasinghe and groom her for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

On a special directive by Minister Fernando, Jayasinghe's sports career will be completely handled by the Sports Ministry. "Jayasinghe is the best athlete that Sri Lanka has ever produced. We must treat her as a national asset and give all assistance for her to bringing even more glory to Sri Lanka. She has the ability to do that and the Ministry is ready to help her overcome problems and get back to action," the Ministry official said.

According to him, Jayasinghe's affairs will be taken off from the Athletic Association, against which she have had numerous problems since 1998.

Sources added that there will be a special expenditure allocated from the Ministry funds to upkeep and sponsor the must successful athlete ever produced by Sri Lanka. All career needs, sponsorships, nutrition, competition and other needs of Jayasinghe will be taken care by the Sports Ministry, which will also help her to get her technical matters sorted out with the country's athletic governing body.

None could challenge the special assistance that Jayasinghe is to get from the Sports Ministry as no other native Lankan athlete has such an outstanding career. Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Johnston Fernando should be commended for the new move, which will prevent Sri Lanka from losing such a talented athlete who could take local athletics even to greater heights. Having won the IAAF World Championship silver medal in 1997 and the Sydney Olympic Games bronze medal in 2000, Jayasinghe will now have a peace of mind to attempt the women's 200m gold at 2004 Athens Olympics. Of course she will be tested fully by her competitors, including American star Marion Jones, but the little Lankan village lass has the willpower and determination to attempt of becoming the first Sri Lankan to win an Olympic gold.

Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry's one-man commission has found Asian Championship gold medallists Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Ranga Wimalawansa guilty of attempting to assault Jayasinghe at the Sports Ministry premises last month. The duo, who are currently serving a six-month ban for misbehaviour during last year's IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, are to face another ban.

The Sports Ministry is to recommend the punishment to the AA, which will formally accept it. However, the two athletes are to be meted out with a suspended ban - probably 6 to 12 months suspended for one year. This will not ruin the athletic careers of the two sprinters, but would discipline them.

But Jayasinghe has no anger against them. She feels that Wimalawansa and Rohan Pradeep have been prompted to have a confrontation with her. "All what I want is to mix freely with the rest of the athletes. We have to be like one family.

All these differences have been created by the coaches. If the Sports Ministry could have common coaches different type of events, I will be the happiest. Then we all can train in the sprint squad," Jayasinghe said.

Asked when she would resume training, Jayasinghe said she will get back to immediate training, if she gets all clear from the Sports Ministry. "I am glad that the Sports Minister has understood my problems. I even don't have a sponsor now. But I hope the things would change with the Sports Minister's directive. Then I will change my mind and resume training," she said.

Jayasinghe is to be summoned to the Sports Ministry tomorrow and inform her about the Ministry's new move and the findings of the one-man committee report. 

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