by Ravi Nagahawatte
Milton Amarasinghe, Director General Sports, told 'The Island’ that no funds will be released to the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) until he is informed as to how the money is going to be spent.

Amarasinghe made it clear to the officials of the TTASL that they had to convince him that the association was going to spend the money on worthwhile projects.

"I have to know whether the proposed projects of the TTASL still exist. There is no problem in releasing this money. Officials of the TTASL have to meet me and have a discussion on this. It is after that I will release the funds," said Amarasinghe.

Officials of the TTASL, however, are of the opinion that this money, which was approved by the former Sports Minister, Lakshman Kiriella, should be given to them without imposing conditions.

The money was approved, when its president wrote to the former Sports Minister requesting funds to continue the activities of the association.

P. D. Ratnasiri, Vice President TTASL and Chairman Tournament Committee, said when contacted that he was denied the allocated money, Rs. 500,000, by ministry officials, when he made a visit to the Sports Ministry, last Thursday.

"I met the accountant at the Sports Ministry and was told that he had not received instructions from Amarasinghe to release the money.

This money has been approved. This is why I went to the accountant and not Amarasinghe," Ratnasiri said.

Ratnasiri also said that he had gone to meet Amarasinghe, on many occasions, but wasn’t able to meet him.

The media co-ordinator of the TTASL, Lalith Priyantha said when contacted that the association plans to conduct all the activities in its calendar, and the need for the money still exists.

"The reasons for which the money is required were sent to Amarasinghe in writing".

"If he wants any clarification on this he should have written to us" said Priyantha.