The Kennel Association of Sri Lanka headed by its Patron the current Sports Minister’s mum Srima Dissanayake and driven by President Manisha Wimalasekere has created more controversy than staging the dog show itself, when auditors doing a routine check found out that based on a letter provided by the current Minister Navin Dissanayake, the stadium officials were instructed to under charge the Kennel Association of Sri Lanka a whopping sum of Rs 580,000.

Minister Navin Dissanayake

Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium officials confirmed that they received Rs 200,000 as opposed to Rs 780,000 that they would have normally generated from such an event, which included the air conditioning comforts for the dogs throughout the day.

Usually ‘Dog Shows’ are held in an outdoor environment and by staging this event in the indoor stadium, the expensive carpet laid on the professional and expensively laid floors had been soiled by the 150 canines urine and excrement throughout the day.

“The kennel Association of Sri Lanka and ‘Dog Shows’ don’t fall under the Ministry of Sports and it was surprising to note that the normalcy of not permitting animals into the indoor stadium had been broken” said Panduka Keerthinanda the former Chairman of the Sugathadasa Stadium when contacted by Colombo Telegraph.

Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that in the sports stadium’s 32 year old history not a single Chairman had entertained any events for animals within the indoor stadium, maintaining strict disciplines and protecting the expensive facilities of the stadium where International events also are held.

When Colombo Telegraph contacted the Stadium officials to get booking and rates and details for staging a similar event, we were informed that this was the first and last time that they were going to rent out the premises for any animal event to to be held. “ We have received immense flak over staging this event and the management is not permitting anymore ‘Dog Show’ bookings the official said.

“The only sport out of the 48 disciplines which are registered as associations, unions and clubs that fall under the Ministry of Sports especially where animals are involved is the ‘Equestrian’ sport discipline which involves horses. Dog Shows is not a sport and does not fall under such category ” said the Sugathadasa Stadium booking official.

Booking rate charges for School Events, National Sports Festival and Sports Associations is the lowest. For International Sport Events, Sports Associations and Education Programs the rate is higher. However events such as these that fall under Commercial Events or Musical Shows the rental charge is at premium rates.

The Minister Dissanayake when contacted earlier on another story told Colombo Telegraph to email any questions if any, but through experience we have learnt that he does not even does as he says.