“I came here to work, not to talk. I never like to waste time,” said Ranjanee Jayakody, the new president of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka.
The Youth Observer had a discussion with her at the end of the national netball tournament in Digana.
Q: You seem to be a fast worker. Did you have a road map before you became president of the Netball Federation?
A: Of course I did. I came here to work and develop the standard of netball in the country. I have no time to waste by talking, I told the committee. This may be due to the fact that I am an administrative officer in government service. I have always proved my metal in whatever sector that I have worked in. I was voted in to produce results and not to talk. I will do my best to fulfil their expectations. Don’t you think I am correct?
Q: Some say that your fast journey in netball was due to political influence. What have you to say about it?
A: I do not have any political background. Ranjanee Jayakody is only a government administrative officer. I have worked in several ministries and handled sensitive matters. I have also worked in the Sports Ministry as Director General of Sports. This may have helped me to become president. Other than this I do not have a political background in my career.
Q: The experience you gained as Director General of Sports would have helped you to attain the new position in the Netball Federation?
A: Yes. It has helped me. In 2011 I became the head of the Department of Sports. I had to handle more than fifty sports associations and I closely studied their methods of administration. During that time I always tried to build up a good infrastructure for sports islandwide. It taught me how to run a Federation or association successfully. This knowledge is the highlight of my journey in this Federation. If anyone knows the subject he or she can dominate any field.
Q: Are you saying that you know netwell well?
A: Yes. I was a netball player in my younger days. I played while at school and in the university, however, I did not enter national level netball. I have been closely attached to the game. No one can hoodwink me. I know every position in the game and how to go about finding success. I have a good committee with a number of former senior players.
Q: Your first decision, the appointment of a national coach ran into controversy. What do you have to say?
A: A good question. I think you mean the appointment of Hyacinth Wijesinghe as head coach of the national team. I must first say that she is a very experienced coach and one of the best in the country. She was a top player who represented the country for nearly 15 years and played over 150 games. She also captained the national team. We decided to appoint her considering her experience. Thilaka Jinadasa was the other candidate who vied for this position. She is also an excellent coach and also a national athlete in multiple sports. I have not ignored her talent. She has been invited to join the national coaching panel.
Q: Tell me about the islandwide talent search for players?
A: We have chosen a pool of 110 players from districts such as Matara, Kurunegala, Badulla, Kandy, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. We were warmly welcomed in Jaffna. Maybe due to the fact that the indoor stadium in the north was built during the time I was Director General of Sports. The youth in the North are talented and so are the girls in the hill country.
Q: I think the international trademark of Sri Lanka netball is Tharjini Sivalingam. As the president of the Sri Lanka Netball Federation, do you think that we are giving enough facilities to Tharjini?
A: I bow my head and apologize to her. I accept the fact that we are not giving enough facilities to Tharji. She is the trademark of netball in Sri Lanka. Generally, she faces serious difficulties during her travel to attend practises by the public transport service. Her height has made things difficult for her. We must concern ourselves with the above matter and find a solution to her transport problems. I hope to discuss this with private sector companies and find transport for her. I will not forget the other players who must also be given enough facilities.
Q: What about the referees and judges in our netball. Some people say that there is not enough professionalism in the panel. Do you agree?
A: No, I don’t. I believe they are well qualified people. But I have heard that a few coaches dispute the judges’ decisions. We must be concerned about it. According to the rules of the game coaches cannot talk back or argue with referees and judges. They have enough freedom to do their work during the match. As a federation we are concerned about the matter and will look into it.
Q: What do you think about sports in schools? What do you propose to do to produce good netball players at the school level?
A: That is the best way to develop any sports. Any sport or for that matter any sector will not develop without a breeding ground. That is true for netball too. Mrs. Nirodha Abeywickrama has become the president of the School’s Netball Federation. She is a good lady who can organize things and gather the schools islandwide to play netball. We must also concern ourselves with school level netball and develop facilities for them. It will help to improve the game and find success in the sport rapidly.