Another Lankan athlete alleges harassment

COLOMBO, SEPT 28: The scandal-hit Sri Lankan sports establishment received yet another jolt with star woman hurdler and athletics team captain Siriyani Kulawansa alleging harassment by a sports official of her country at the SAF Games in Kathmandu and announcing her immediate return home.

Kulawansa, who claimed her fourth straight SAF games 100metres hurdles gold yesterday with a new meet mark, broke down during a press meet in the Nepalese capital yesterday while charging that a woman official of the Sri Lankan contingent was harassing and 8220;victimising8221; her.

The hurdler alleged that the official Badra Gunawardenewas harassing her and was trying to foster disunity among teammates and said she was also contemplating leaving Sri Lanka in the near future.

In an outburst similar to that of former world 200 metres silver medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, who had last year alleged sexual harassment by top Sri Lankan sports officials and left to train in the United States, Kulawansa said the Island8217;s OlympicCommittee officials took no action against Gunawardene despite her complaints.