School Athletic Association completely irresponsible

017-07-07

There were no proper safety measures that had been taken in the Sir John Tarbet Athletics Championship concluded yesterday.

The Sri Lanka School Athletic Association (SLSAA) along with Ceylon Biscuits Limited organized the championship but this year there was no ambulance kept stand by at the venue. Ambulances being kept at the site is a must in any sporting event and Sri Lanka has been facing many sad situations of athletes dying as a result of this lapse.

When athletes were injured during the race there was no one to help them until their parents come in to help them. This was a pathetic occurrence at this year's championship. These incidents kept on repeating and so many incidents took place during the three days of the championship and several schools made official complaints to the SLSAA but it seems like they don't care or consider their complains.

Organizers should be more concerned on the children rather than their benefits and questions were raised as to what was happening to the funds they get from the main sponsors. School children were seen eating their meals where sewerage was flowing slightly away from where they were. Had the funds been properly utilized there would not be questions asked.

Ceylon Biscuits is a large company and these children they support are their future customers, sadly the company authorities who were involved seemed to have forgotten the fact that this was no way to treat the future citizens.