Whistleblower M.H.U. Usuph has sent an urgent email to Prime Minister and current Minister of Sports, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, calling for immediate action against NOCSL Secretary General Maxwell De Silva. Usuph stressed the severe repercussions that Sri Lanka would face from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if prompt measures are not taken. He emphasized the critical nature of the situation, given the IOC and Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) demands for the suspension of De Silva due to bribery and corruption allegations.
Usuph is the individual who, in 2021, filed a case with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption against both former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando and Secretary General Maxwell De Silva. His efforts have now culminated in the IOC and OCA taking a firm stance, insisting on De Silva’s suspension to uphold transparency and accountability within Sri Lanka’s sports governance.
The sent email is found below:
13th November 2024
Hon. Harini Amarasuriya MP
Prime Minister & Minister of Youth & Sports
Prime Minister’s Office
No. 58
Sir Earnest De Silva Mawatha
Colombo-07.
Dear Hon. Harini Amarasuriya,
REQUEST TO IMMEDIATELY DIRECT THE OFFICIALS TO TAKE ACTION FOR LONG OVERDUE ACTION AGAINST MAXWELL DE SILVA FOR VIOLATIONS & OFFENCES COMMITTED
I write with reference to the above and my numerous complaints to Officials of the Ministry of Youth & Sports and Department of Sports Development as well which have fallen on deaf ears.
It is now well established that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) & OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) have issued an irrevocable directive to suspend the Secretary of the NOCSL (National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka) Maxwell De Silva with immediate effect as he been found guilty of committing various offences and violations in terms of the Olympic Charter etc.
In addition to the above, Maxwell De Silva who has held office in various National Sports Federations/Associations which are under the purview of the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Youth & Sports has committed the following offences which warrants action against him,
1. Held multiple positions at the same time in National Sports Federations/ Associations – Assistant Treasurer JUDO Association and Vice President of Teqball Association and both are registered with the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Youth & Sports and also held position of Vice President in the unregistered illegal unlawful sport federation/association named DANCESPORT SRI LANKA.
2. Human Smuggling – Directly responsible for sending 6 persons for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the UK without the Sports Ministry approval representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and also purposefully withheld the information of the 6 people from the Ministry of Youth & Sports. In addition, 2 persons who were accredited and sent of these 6 people have not returned to Sri Lanka.
3. Financial Misappropriation – He has been found guilty of drawing the expenses for Travel and Accommodation in duplicate to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
4. Violation of Sports Law on Submitting Annual Financial Statements / Reports for auditing – He has been a part of the 3 office bearers fully and directly responsible to furnish this annually for auditing by the auditor general. This has been committed for several years during his tenure as Secretary of the National Olympic Committee between 2009 to 2017.
5. Office Bearer & Facilitator of the Unregistered Fraudulent National Sport Federation / Association – DANCESPORT Sri Lanka has been functioning illegally and unlawfully without a registration for several years. Maxwell De Silva has held office as Vice President and been an active part of DANCESPORT Sri Lanka. The fraudulent National Sports Federation / Association has also functioned in violation of laws and regulations as per attorney generals’ instruction in E/337/2024.
6. Corruption in Awarding of IOC Solidarity Training Scholarships – He is responsible for awarding such in Wrestling, Aquatics.
In addition to the above Maxwell De Silva is currently under investigation for various illegal and unlawful acts by the,
1. Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery & Or Corruption-multiple complaints.
2. Financial Crimes Investigation Unit (FCIU) of the Criminal Investigation Department- pending being produced in court and charge sheet given.
3. Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to Prevent Sports Related Offences
I believe the above facts justified warrants immediate enforcement of sports law against Maxwell De Silva by imposing a BAN ON HIM FROM HOLDING ANY PAID, UNPAID or VOLUNTARY POSITION in any NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION /ASSOCIATION, DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION, SPORTS CLUB within the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The above extraction of the section of the Sports Law quotedshould have been duly enforced by either Director General of Department of Sports Development and or Secretary Ministry of Youth & Sportswhich has not been done to date.
I am urging your good self to immediately intervene and issue a direction to the Director General of Department of Sports Development and Secretary Ministry of Youth & Sports to enforce the sports law against the violator / offender Maxwell De Silva forthwith in the best interest of all sports in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Yours truly
