Retired Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon has strongly rejected claims by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage that he demanded US$300,000 as a condition to continue representing Sri Lanka, saying the amount instead relates to years of outstanding government commitments and expenses incurred by him and his support team.
Responding to the Minister’s recent remarks, Abeykoon said the amount was linked to commitments made by previous administrations, including outstanding payments dating back to 2021.
“We did not ask for US$300,000 as a condition for me to continue competing,” Abeykoon said. “The request was based on commitments made by previous ministers and discussions that had been ongoing for years. Everything has been documented.”
He said he had approached the Minister seeking assistance to resolve a long-standing administrative issue that had remained unresolved for more than four years, and expressed disappointment over the manner in which the matter was subsequently presented to the public.
“I believe the Minister’s statement created the false impression that ‘Yupun asked us for US$300,000 and we cannot give it’. That is not what happened,” he said. “That statement drags me into politics and creates the impression that I competed for Sri Lanka only for money. I find that deeply disappointing.”
Rejecting any suggestion that his decision was driven by financial considerations, the South Asian record holder said he had repeatedly chosen to represent Sri Lanka despite opportunities abroad, including the possibility of obtaining Italian citizenship.
“I have never been involved in politics. I chose to represent Sri Lanka despite having opportunities to obtain Italian citizenship. I carried the Sri Lankan flag with pride,” Abeykoon said. “To portray an athlete who represented Sri Lanka in that manner is something I strongly reject.”
Abeykoon further clarified that the US$300,000 figure included coaching costs, support staff fees and expenses he had personally incurred while competing internationally.
He also stressed that his decision to retire was not prompted by the Government’s refusal to provide the US$300,000, but followed years of frustration over systemic shortcomings and unresolved administrative issues.
