The Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Association headed by Dr. Cyril Antony plans to give a new lease of life to this martial art in the year 2010.

Antony, in an interview with ‘The Island’ said that the standard of taekwon-do has dropped to the depths in Sri Lanka. "This is because I, as the person who introduced taekwon-do to Sri Lanka, have been sidelined. As a start to giving taekwon-do a boost, I have organized a programme which will be held at the Taekwon-Do-headquarters in Hendala, Wattala on January 5, at 4.00 pm," said Antony.

Antony’s name is synonymous with taekwon-do in Sri Lanka, since he introduced the sport in 1976. According to him, the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation was established in 1984. However, after 12 years of promoting this art, the registration of the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation was suspended in 1996 by then Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake. He stated that the Sports Ministry had granted authority to the Taekwondo Interim Body to oversee the administration of teakwon-do in Sri Lanka. He said this is wrong because only the registration of the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation, he formed, was suspended. He claimed that the Sri Lanka Teakwon-Do-Federation exists as only its registration has been suspended.

Antony said that he has decided to end his ‘silence’ as a sports administrator and get involved in taekwon-do. He added that he had all the right to do so, because he was a stakeholder of this martial art.

He said that the suspension of registration of the Sri Lanka Teakwon-Do-Federation was not correct, because the Ministry of Sport had not supported this martial art.

Antony also said that the suspension had strained relations between the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation and the Ministry of Sports. "Since a relationship between the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation and the Ministry of Sports does not exist, the Ministry of Sports can’t order, influence or command the Taekwon-do Federation," explained Antony.

The registration of the Taekwon-Do-Federation of Sri Lanka was suspended in 1996 and an interim administration was appointed by the Sports Minister in accordance with the Sports Law of the country. He also termed the elections that were called to elect an administrative body for taekwon-do in 2004 and 2009 as illegal.

He also questioned as to how two bodies for teakwon-do can exist. "I also ask on behalf of which taekwon-do federation the elections were conducted."

He said that a great injustice had been done to him and his students by conducting elections without lifting the suspension of the registration of the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation. "This is a human rights violation," Antony said.

Antony said that the 13th year of the suspension of the registration of the Sri Lanka Taekwon-Do-Federation would be commemorated with the special programme he has organized. He said that many practitioners of taekwon-do would attend this programme. A lecture will be delivered on the past, present and future of taekown-do in Sri Lanka. A demonstration of this martial has been organized and certificates will be issued to students of taekwon-do.