Ten members of crisis-hit Sri Lanka's Commonwealth Games contingent in Birmingham have disappeared in a suspected attempt to remain in Britain, a top sports official said. The nine athletes and a manager vanished after completing their events, the Sri Lankan official said.
Three of them - judoka Chamila Dilani, her manager Asela de Silva, and wrestler Shanith Chathuranga - had disappeared last week. That prompted a police complaint by the Sri Lankan officials. "Since then, another seven have vanished," the official said, without identifying them.
"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. That failed to deter some from leaving. 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 Sri Lankan official said.
"In fact, the police got us to return the passports that we were holding as a deterrent against defections," the official said. "The police have not told us about their whereabouts." Britain's West Midlands police force, which covers Birmingham, said it was looking into reports of six Sri Lankans going missing from the Games, and said "enquiries continue to ensure they are safe and well".
Two Pak boxers go missing
Menwhile, two Pakistani boxers have also gone missing in Birmingham after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games, the national federation said. Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Nasir Tang confirmed the news that boxers Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah disappeared a couple of hours before the team's departure for Islamabad. “The travel documents including their passports are still with federation officials who accompanied the boxing team to the games,” Tang said.
