RAW DEAL FOR ATHLETES AS MINISTRY AND KARATE OFFICIALS PLAY BALL

An irresponsible Sri Lanka Karate Federation and the Sports Ministry's suspension of it had possibly led to as many as 31 competitors being forced to return home from the Katunayake airport without visas on Tuesday with only their air tickets as they prepared to fly to China for the 23rd Asian Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Championships that starts today.

- By DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

The tour party comprised mostly of school students from across the country who had trained for over six weeks and spent around Rs. 580,000 each on airfare, accommodation and transport.

They arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) three hours before their scheduled SriLankan Airlines flight, but were left stranded as no karate federation officials were present to facilitate visa arrangements.

Parents of several athletes expressed frustration saying they had mortgaged property to cover costs.