The role of Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in the process of lifting the international football ban imposed on Sri Lanka has now ended and as his role in that phase, he will call a special general assembly meeting on the 14th to conduct football office elections, said Jaswar Umar, the former president of the Sri Lanka Football Federation said Saturday (29th).
In order to free Sri Lanka from the international football ban, all the football league heads were invited to one table and were of one opinion in the press conference held at the football training center in Baddagana, Pitakotte.
Mr. Jaswar Umar also said that it has been decided to hold the General Assembly meeting on the 14th at 2.00 pm at the Colombo Foundation and that all the football league representatives have been informed to participate in it and their participation is definitely expected on that day.
The arrangements have been made to hold the official election according to the new football constitution adopted by everyone on the 22nd of last September and the sports ministry's rejection of that constitution is the immediate reason for imposing an international ban on Sri Lanka.
Mr. Jaswar also mentioned that the minister has been flexible and approved the constitution and the International Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation have accordingly given the necessary approval to lift the ban on football in Sri Lanka. Before that, Sri Lanka should hold office elections, appoint new officials and inform the international community.It has been decided to call the players of the national football team for training after the general meeting to be held on August 14th. He said that in the upcoming meeting, a decision will be taken regarding the date of the election and the candidates for the election and that the relevant officials should be appointed 10 days before the first match between Sri Lanka and Yemen in the World Cup qualifying round. Although the victory of that match is essential for Sri Lanka, the right to take decisions regarding it will be done after the General Assembly meeting held on the 14th.
Mr. Ranjith Rodrigu, the former football president, who spoke at the press conference said "We have been divided for a long time. We all love the chairman's chair. But we love the country's football more than the chairman's chair. If we really love football, we should save this football. For that, we all joined hands for one purpose. I remember, can't we join together?"
Addressing the press conference, former Football Senior Vice President Executive Board Member Dr. Manil Fernando said that although former President Anura de Silva did not attend today's meeting, he expects his participation in the future.
"We hope that he will come. He talked with me about this. In the last election, he contested as secretary from my side. He also wants to get out of this abyss. If we take it as a team, the participation of foreign players is essential. This should be done soon. But they are talking about facilities such as insurance required for those coming players. We need to provide them soon."
