Men’s champion Niluka Karunaratne, his brother second ranked Dinuka and former women’s title holder Achini Ratnasiri are in a position to qualify for Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

Owing to the suspension of the local association by the world badminton governing body, they all had lost opportunities to reach their qualifying levels at games that began mid-this year.

Two days ago, the suspension was lifted and Sri Lankan players are now able to compete in international games.

However, local officials are adopting a lazy approach which is likely to deny the available opportunities for the players to gain qualification.

The players had hoped to take part in two tournaments in the US and in Bangladesh in the first week of December, but applications closed two nights ago, with officials making no attempt on behalf of the players.

Some believe this to be an act of revenge.

No answer to minister’s calls to badminton chief

In order to sort out the matters, the badminton players met sports minister Dayasiri Jaysekara on the same evening, but the minister’s attempts to reach badminton chief Suraj Dandeniya had failed.

Jayasekara then instructed association secretary Amal Dias to do the necessary coordination, and asked him not to take revenge from the players.

Yesterday morning, he had a meeting with the badminton officials, including Dandeniya.

There, he was told that the applications should be sent via internet, and that a user name and password should be obtained from the world association.