Three Sri Lankans go missing at Commonwealth Games 2022
The Sri Lankan team has asked its athletes and officials at the Commonwealth Games to turn in their passports after three members went missing.
The nation, which is experiencing a major economic crisis, confirmed late Wednesday that a wrestler, a judoka, and a judo coach have disappeared from one of the Commonwealth Games villages housing athletes and officials.
Sri Lankan team spokesperson Gobinath Sivarajah told The Telegraph in India that Birmingham police are investigating the absence of the three members.
“We have asked all athletes and officials to submit their passports to our respective venue officials in all the villages after the incident,” he said. “The police are investigating and the three cannot cross the UK borders. What has happened is really unfortunate.”
At the 2018 Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, almost one-third of the Cameroon team went missing after the event. Rwanda’s weightlifting coach also fled during a toilet break at the host stadium.
It was reported at least 230 athletes and officials lodged applications for protection visas in Australia after the event, but the majority were denied.
Sri Lanka, which picked a 161-strong contingent for the 2022 Games, had a silver and two bronze medals — including Yupun Abeykoon’s third place finish in the men’s 100-meter final on Wednesday — after six days of competition.
(AP)
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Bringing reputation to the country at the international arena!!!! It must be the morning news among the participants this morning!
Do we have a reputation anymore within this world?
They ‘jumped the ship”. Yes, this is a disreputation to SL and disgrace to other athletes & SL officials. The immediate result was organizers asking the Sri Lankan athletes and officials at the Commonwealth Games to turn in their passports!!! However, YUpun and Palitha made SL proud.
It is a disgrace and cowardice media are afraid of naming them when they should. British Emigration and Immigration will track them down and will sent them to Rwanda to process their applications if they ask for political asylum. With black skins they are ideal candidates for the British Home Office striving to show the public that the ‘offshore; asylum entry is working.
These young people are being misled.
Living overseas, well, that’s your choice.
But please do so in a legitimate manner.
Hone up you skills and sell them to clients overseas and make a living over there.
Running away on a taxpayer funded opportunity, you will live with that guilt for the rest of your life.