Two times Sri Lanka Davis Cup poolist and former Sri Lanka Junior Davis Cup team member Michael Siyaguna has been ousted from consideration for the inaugural National Tennis Colours Awards (Juniors) because he is not a Sri Lankan citizen, Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) sources revealed on Wednesday (28).

The SLTA has nominated Dineshkanthan Thangarajah and Guyanga Weerasekera for this year’s National Tennis Colours (Juniors) while overlooking a higher-ranked Under-18 player Siyaguna who finished first in the 2007 year-ending domestic rankings.

"We’ll go to courts and complain to the Sports Ministry if the SLTA doesn’t do justice to Michael," said Michael’s father Sunil Siyaguna to ‘The Island’ on Wed.

After weeks of inquiry, the Siyaguna parents on Wednesday received a letter from the SLTA, signed by its Gen. Secretary Lt. Col. Shiran Abeysekera, explaining the reasons for Siyaguna’s non-entry saying: "It was observed that according to ITF (International Tennis Federation) rankings Michael Siyaguna was considered an Australian National during participation in 2007 Tennis Tournaments." The above letter further says Siyaguna (Jr.) held an Australian passport during that year.

Siyaguna (Sr.) meanwhile argues as to how his son was allowed to represent Sri Lanka by the SLTA during the past years if he was not a Sri Lankan.

"It is a clear case of SLTA officials favouring certain players while barring a more deserved player receiving the National award. If they take into consideration the U-18 rankings last year, Michael is well above the rest at the domestic level and was second only to Dineshkanthan if the ITF rankings too were considered," added Siyaguna (Sr.).

Our efforts to contact both Lt. Col. Abeysekera and Angelo Patrick, Chairman, SLTA Selection Committee for Colours Awards, failed last evening. S. Liyanagama of the Sports and Public Recreation Ministry said the first ever National Sports Colours Awards is scheduled to be held on July 16 at the BMICH. The National Tennis Senior Colours, meanwhile, will be awarded to both Harshana Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse.

Meanwhile, a well informed source revealed to ‘The Island’ that some officials at the SLTA aim at offering the junior awards to their ‘pet contenders.’

"There are many other players at present who play for Sri Lanka while holding foreign passports. You can represent Sri Lanka if you were born here and your name is sanctioned by the country’s main association. The same SLTA sanctioned Siyaguna last year for overseas tournaments as a Sri Lankan rep. If Michael got through the trials last year, he would still have played in Davis Cup for Sri Lanka as well. What would the SLTA say then? This is nothing but a silly effort to hide one’s cunning deeds," the source further added.