Is NSC a toothless tiger?

The National Sports Council (NSC) is the supreme body in sports administration in any country. It is the main controlling body, which governs all national sports associations (NSAs) and advise the Sports Ministry.

Technically, there is no difference in Sri Lanka. But practically, Sri Lanka's NSC has been a mere ceremonial body. Less importance and respect given to our NSC over the years has made it a toothless tiger. Perhaps, the credibility of the people who are appointed to high office too would have contributed to make the NSC an unimportant body in our sports world.

Nevertheless, it's the NSC, which should have the final say and guide the Sports Minister in the right direction. Unfortunately, that has hardly happened because most people appointed to the NSC over the past years preferred to be more ceremonial than coming out fearlessly for the best interest of Sri Lanka sports.

That too was understandable in a country like ours. Most people appointed to head the NSC and as it's members over the past years had more political affiliations than credentials. Hence, their aims ever since coming to the NSC were to satisfy the Sports Minister, whether he was right or wrong.

That has deteriorated the confidence and respect the NSC should have among the sportsmen and women. Even some NSAs, through their political affiliations and powers, have bypassed the NSC.

It's the national selection committee that has to make the final decision in team selections for top international events such as Olympic Games. The national selection committees could pick their respective teams but the national selection committee's green light should be obtained before the Sports Minister ratifies those teams and contingents.

The present NSC Chairman, Saman Amarasinghe seems to be engaged in a lone battle for the constitutional rights of the National Sports Council. He may be an appointee of the Sports Minister but Amarasinghe has been firm on any issues to maintain the dignity and supremacy of the NSC.

Even in the recent selection controversy of veteran Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, the matter was referred to Amarasinghe. Following several complaints regarding the omission of Jayasuriya from the recent three-Test series in India, President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered a probe and the NSC chairman was asked to investigate.

In his order, President Rajapakse asked to find out the questionable cricket selections - as to why Jayasuriya was picked for the seven-match one day international series, if he was nursing an injury, without resting him for the more-important three-Test series which followed. Amarasinghe's final findings were to be handed over to the President last week.

The arms of the NSC should be strengthened to fight injustice and monitor the activities of the national sports associations. The NSC should be given wider powers by the National Sports law to look into the activities NSAs as well as the selection committees.

The requirement of all selections made by the respective sports' selection committees going through the National selection committee should strictly be adhered to. On the other hand, the Sports Minister should have a greater relationship with the NSC and should often consult it on the matters of national importance. The Sports Ministry should stand strongly for the NSC, in the event an NSA tries to bypass the national body.

However, in order to achieve the best results, the composition of the NSC too should be impressive. Knowledgeable people with proven track records should be appointed to the NSC, irrespective of their political vision. Their past experience should be considered before the appointments are made. If not, the NSC and it's members would find it hard to earn respect.

Even the Sports Minister himself would prefer to get advise from reputed past sportsmen and women of yesteryear, than his own political appointees. Hence, every endeavour should be made to include reputed sports personalities in the NSC. On the other hand, those NSC members should be knowledgeable enough to make right decisions on key issues and guide the Sports Minister in the right direction.

The standard of Sri Lanka sports is deteriorating fast. It's happening in almost every sport, except for a few like boxing and tennis. Our cricketers suffered a humiliating defeat in India, losing the seven-match one day series 1-6 and the three-Test series 0-2. Earlier this month, our soccer team lost all their matches at the South Asian Championship, even going down to minnows Afghanistan 1-2.

Even our athletes have not been that impressive in recent times. All that would be left for us to talk about are 2000 Sydney Olympic bronze medal of Susanthika Jayasinghe, Commonwealth Games silver medal of Sriyan Kulawansa and Asian Games triple gold medals of Damayanthi Darsha. One wonders if there would be anyone to emulate those feats in the next decade or so.