The land belonged to the Sports Ministry was legally transferred to the “Royal Turf Club”

Sep 06, 2015

The prejudiced party has sent us an email through their lawyer Panduka Keerthinanda following the article published on our website on the 3rd of September under the caption “A land belonged to the sports ministry is illegally owned by a knave”. We are publishing the email which we received in English without any alteration. We are hoping to publish a reply to the email as soon as we receive a response from our source.

Reply to the lankanewsweb.net article published on the 03rd September, 2015 under the heading “A Land belonged to the sports ministry is illegally owned by a knave”.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 
I refer to the above article and I wish to reply as follows.
The above land is a property of Ministry of Sports Sri Lanka and which is maintain and supervise by their trading arm, the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority, which is govern by act No. 17 of 1999 and this said authority have the legal right to rent, maintain and manage any sports complexes which is coming under their umbrella.

This Act has been passed by Parliament of Sri Lanka and the sports authority is being administrated and managed by a board of management appointed by the minister of sports in Sri Lanka. Secretary to the ministry of sports or the representative also a member of the said board of management and the Director General of sports in Sri Lanka is also a member of the board. A representative from the treasury of the Sri Lanka (Finance Ministry) also member of the board and the Chairman and seven members are appointed by the sports minister. The main functions and the responsibilities of the authority to provide necessary infrastructure facilities for sportsmen and women and for the sports society.

Sri Lanka Turf Club had been in the possession for 99-year lease and in year 2000, the 99 lease was expired and thereafter the Government of Sri Lanka under gazette notification it was vested to Ministry of Sports for the purpose of providing facilities for sportsmen and women and also to build a High Altitude sports training center in Nuwara Eliya. After acquiring the Nuwara Eliya Race Course, Sri Lanka Turf Club was given this property on annual rental basis.

In year 2015, Sri Lanka Turf Club did not obtain the rights to function and use the said premises due to nonpayment of annual rental to Sugathadasa Sports Complex Authority. Therefore, Royal Turf Club Nuwara Eliya a newly incorporated Club under the companies act no 07of 2007 bearing registration number GA 3072 obtain this legally by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for two years commencing from July 2015 to July 2017. This was approved by said board of management (SNSCA) and also to the secretary to the ministry of sports has granted written consent for the said MOU.

In year 2015 April races, certain members of the Sri Lanka Turf Club was allegedly charged for doping in sports, under the anti-doping laws of Sri Lanka. Presently the matter has been referred by the Nuwara Eliya Police to Attorney Generals Department of Sri Lanka. Due to the above matter the certain members of Sri Lanka turf club facing charges under the said law.

Mr Rienzy Edward and their family members had the opportunity to win the prestige’s governor’s cup in 2015 in a honest fair manner. But unfortunately the winners’ cup was not given to the winner by manipulating the rules and regulations of the races by turf club officials.

Further refereeing to your article I wish to state that, Mr Rienzy Edward has transferred the foreign money legally from a foreign bank to Sri Lanka bank and also he has obtained approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and therefore this entire transaction is a legitimate and which is not a financial crime whatsoever.

As per the prevention of money laundering act No 05 of 2006, a petition has been sent to FCID in Colombo and presently it is being investigated preliminary under the said act and FCID has obtained a court order under the provisions of the said act to start preliminary investigation as a normal procedure. There are no suspects have been taken into custody or even have not been taken any statement. Therefore, as per your article, which is incorrect and unfair to mention that this is an illegal transaction. 

And therefore it is clearly evident that, certain unruly elements have taken a revenge to tarnish the reputation of Mr Rienzy Edward who is a genuine businessman and also sports loving individual.

However, it is clearly evident that this information has given to your website in a misleading manner. Therefore, kindly be good enough to remove the article which was published in your website.

Yours truly
Panduka Keerthinanda 
Attorney at Law