ISLAMABAD, April 9: Sri Lankan olympic chief Hemasiri Fernando says the island is not yet ready to host the 9th edition of the SAF Games as it requires at least 18 months to prepare for the event.

“I am afraid we will have to refuse if such a proposal (to host 9th SAF Games) comes up at the next official meeting.

Hosting SAF Games is no joke. We have to put infrastructure in place and also a lot of organising is required”, Fernando told the “Daily Mirror” newspaper in Colombo. “At the present situation, we will need at least another one and a half years to prepare for a meet of this magnitude”, he said.

Fernando also said that it was very unlikely that Pakistani officials would be in favour of handing over the Games to Sri Lanka, because they have strongly indicated that they want to host the Games after a postponement. “Pakistan National Olympic Committee General Secretary Latif Butt and I had a telephone discussion.

He never mentioned about shifting the venue. But he in fact requested our support for them to keep the right to host the Games after a further postponement. They are looking for September-October to host the Games in Islamabad”, Fernando revealed.

The Executive Committee meeting of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF), is scheduled for April 10 and 11 in Islamabad.

The venue can be shifted if five of the member countries so desire.

Fernando also opposed the move to invite countries outside the South Asian region to compete in the SAF Games as “guest participant”.—APP