New Delhi: Ten members of the financial crisis-hit Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games contingent in Birmingham have disappeared in a suspected attempt to remain in Britain. The nine athletes and a manager vanished after completing their events, a Sri Lankan official said on Sunday.
Three of them – judoka Chamila Dilani, her manager Asela de Silva, and wrestler Shanith Chathuranga – went missing last week.
The official said, “We suspect they want to remain in the UK, possibly to get employment. The 160-strong Sri Lankan contingent’s management possessed the passports of all members to ensure they returned home,”
British police located the first three that disappeared, but as they had not violated local laws and held visas valid for six months, no action was taken. The police got us to return the passports that we were holding as a deterrent against defections. The police have not told us about their whereabouts, Sri Lankan official told the media.
Sri Lanka had won one silver and three bronze medals at the Games as of Sunday evening.
Sri Lankan athletes have been reported missing from international events in the past. In October last year, Sri Lanka’s wrestling manager abandoned his team and disappeared in Oslo during the World Championships.
(Vinayak)