In an almost comedic display of bootlicking, Director General of Sports Development Dr. Shemal Fernando managed to turn a formal meeting invitation into a social media spectacle. In his overzealous attempt to ingratiate himself with the newly appointed Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, Dr. Fernando issued an official communique demanding sports association representatives adhere to a formal dress code for a meeting at the Duncan White Auditorium on December 2, 2024.
The instructions? Men were ordered to wear long-sleeved shirts and ties, while women were commanded to don sarees because nothing screams professionalism like a government-mandated fashion show.
However, instead of earning him brownie points, the letter earned him widespread ridicule when it circulated on social media. The public was quick to lampoon the Director General’s priorities, questioning whether his focus was on sports development or a dress code enforcement.
Feeling the sting of public mockery, Dr. Fernando scrambled to save face.In a second, hastily issued letter, he sheepishly revoked the dress code, allowing participants to attend in attire of their choosing. But the damage was already done, with his initial directive now serving as a prime example of misplaced priorities in sports administration.
As sarcastic commentators noted, “If only Dr. Fernando could focus as much on addressing the real issues in Sri Lanka’s sports as he does on sartorial mandates, we might actually see some progress.”
