The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has reinforced its stance against the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), maintaining a financial freeze until all officials accused of corruption are completely removed.
This decision prolongs the financial suspension first imposed in December 2024 by both the OCA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to serious governance failures and allegations of financial misconduct, primarily directed at NOCSL’s corrupt and tainted Secretary General Maxwell de Silva.
Despite repeated requests from NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam to lift the finance freeze, the OCA remains unwavering.
In a letter dated February 17, the OCA reaffirmed that financial assistance would only be reconsidered once the NOCSL fully complies with the IOC-OCA directives by expelling all individuals implicated in corruption from current and future roles within the organization.
“The OCA is willing to reconsider your request in the best interest of athletes, as they should not suffer. However, before we even entertain discussions, the directives in the joint IOC-OCA letters must be fully implemented. Those implicated in corruption must step aside entirely as they have no place in the present or future affairs of the NOCSL.”
Subramaniam has voiced serious concerns over the detrimental impact of the financial suspension on Sri Lankan athletes.
“Due to the IOC/OCA financial suspension, we are facing severe hardship, particularly for the athletes. As of February 2025, NOCSL is forecasted to lose $30,000 per month, even after cutting expenses to a bare minimum and halting new projects. It is unfortunate that this situation arose because of one individual, supported by a handful of ExCo members,” Subramaniam wrote.
The suspension of Secretary General Maxwell de Silva in January 2025, following serious financial misconduct allegations, has not satisfied the OCA, which remains concerned that de Silva’s accomplices, including Chandana Liyanage, Gamini Jayasinghe, Kanchana Jayaratne, Sampath Alahakoon and Suranjith Premadasa still hold positions within NOCSL and have actively resisted implementing the Ethics Committee’s recommendations.
With Sri Lanka’s participation in major international competitions, including the South Asian Games (SAG) and the Commonwealth Games, now at risk, Subramaniam has warned that the prolonged financial blockade could devastate the country’s sporting future.
“As President, I cannot let down the athletes, the government, and the right-thinking ExCo members. Some of our local sponsors have already distanced themselves from the NOCSL. I would greatly appreciate it if you could reconsider the financial suspension on our organisation.” he wrote.
However, the OCA remains resolute in funding and will not be reinstated until the NOCSL undergoes a complete overhaul. To address these concerns and restore credibility, Subramaniam has initiated a long-overdue forensic audit of NOCSL’s financial operations. He has sought proposals from leading audit firms to investigate key financial areas, including the Olympic Solidarity Fund, the Athletes Commission, the Forest Cover Project, and several sports associations.
“I am of the view that it is the bounden duty of the Members of the EB of the NOCSL to ensure that IOC/OCA funding is restored at the earliest, to avoid any further prejudice from being caused to the NOCSL as well as to the Athletes of this country.”
“Hence, we should act swiftly to RID the NOCSL of all the Members, including Members of the EB, against whom there are corruption allegations, with a view to restoring the image and reputation of the NOCSL as well as to procure the urgently required funding from the IOC/OCA, which is of immense benefit to the Athletes of this country.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) are intensifying their crackdown on corruption within the NOCSL, not only suspending financial assistance but also committing to fully funding a forensic audit to uncover widespread financial misconduct that has plagued the committee for nearly 15 years.
This audit, initially proposed during the NOCSL’s Annual General Meeting in 2021, had been repeatedly obstructed by key officials, most notably the now-suspended Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, along with his accomplices Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe (Winter Ski Sports/Teqball/Dance Sports), Assistant Secretary Chandana Liyanage (Basketball/ Teqball/Dance Sport), Suranjith Premadsa (Equestrian), Sampath Alahakoon (Taekwondo) and Kanchana Jayaratne (Volleyball / Taekwondo). These officials are accused of systematically being involved in acts of fraud and also being in violation of the country’s sports law.
Specualtion is rife that initial investigations have uncovered widespread misappropriation of funds from the Olympic Solidarity Fund, which was intended to strengthen sports associations, acquire technology, train athletes, and support environmental initiatives such as reforestation and coral restoration. Over the years, these funds have been systematically siphoned off. Additionally, a sum of US $30,000 allocated to the Athletes Commission, currently overseen by former Olympians Niluka Karunaratne and Rasika Udugampola, has reportedly been misappropriated and misused. In most other countries, such funds are dedicated to athlete training, education, and overall development.
Despite these overwhelming evidence, many implicated officials have remained in power, continuing to exert influence over NOCSL operations.
One of the most concerning revelations involves the establishment of fraudulent sports associations, designed to inflate the voting power of certain officials and secure their long-term control of the NOCSL. Suspicious associations such as Teqball and Dance Sports were swiftly dissolved by the Ministry of Sports following discoveries of fraudulent activity. Even the sport association Modern Pentathlon run by its President Nishantha Piyasena if properly investigated and audited is potentially at risk of being suspended.
In response to these deeply entrenched issues, President Subramaniam has pushed forward with the long-overdue forensic audit, engaging top auditing firms to thoroughly examine financial dealings tied to the Olympic Solidarity Fund and other NOCSL projects. The goal is to re-establish transparency, accountability, and integrity within the organization to ensure that future funding is utilized for its intended purpose in supporting and developing Sri Lankan athletes.
The IOC and OCA have made their position unequivocally clear, until all individuals linked to corruption are permanently removed, financial support will not be restored. This firm stance by the IOC and the OCA reflects their commitment to upholding ethical governance and promoting integrity within the Olympic movement.
