Colombo – 27th May 2025 – In a dramatic development within Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Sports, Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne is tipped to tender his resignation in protest over what he describes as a complete erosion of respect and authority, allegedly engineered by the National Sports Council (NSC) under the leadership of Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake.
According to senior insiders at the Ministry, Sugath Thilakaratne, an Olympian and one of Sri Lanka’s most decorated athletes, is feeling increasingly sidelined and humiliated, as the National Sports Council (NSC) continues to operate well beyond its intended advisory role, effectively controlling the ministry’s affairs with minimal accountability.
Thilakaratne’s illustrious international career, which spanned from 1994 to 2002, saw him claim 11 medals, including seven golds, six at the South Asian Games and one at the 1998 Asian Games in the men’s 400m. He also secured bronze medals at the 1995 Asian Athletics Championships, 1998 Commonwealth Games, and the 2002 Asian Athletics Championships.
The situation has reportedly created a serious rift between Thilakaratne and Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, who, despite holding the top portfolio, is said to be heavily reliant on the NSC for guidance, given his professional background in finance and limited experience in sports administration.
“Don’t get me wrong – Minister Gamage is a genuine person. But right now, he’s being taken for a jolly good ride,” a source close to Sugath Thilakaratne revealed, expressing deep concern over the current dynamics within the Ministry of Sports.
“Sugath Thilakaratne was appointed through the national list by the NPP to bring integrity and experience into the sporting sector. He can’t be part of a system where appointees from the previous regime dictate everything behind the scenes. The appointee referred to is Director General Shemal Fernando who tends to work directly with the NSC whilst disregrading the Deputy Minister,” the source continued.
The source further elaborated on the tangled political affiliations: “It is common knowledge that Priyantha Ekanayake is the former SLR President Asanga Seneviratne’s man, and Seneviratne in turn happens to be former Minister of Sports and current SLPP Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa’s close ally. Just mark my words. Namal is bound to ridicule the current Minister Gamage in parliament, portraying that he has no clue about what he does or how he runs the Ministry of Sports with just his mere knowledge in finance. These are all wheels within wheels that merely keep one spinning around in circles, with no hope in sight of moving forward.”
The Kiwi (Under 85 kg) Tour Debacle and Misplaced Expectations
A flashpoint in the growing discord appears to have been Sri Lanka Rugby’s recent matches against the New Zealand Under-85kg rugby team, where Sri Lanka suffered a 50–10 defeat in Kandy and 32 – 06 in Colombo.
Sources claim that Ekanayake had misled Minister Gamage by presenting the visiting team as equivalent to the famed All Blacks, even enticing him with the chance to watch the team perform the iconic haka war dance live. The minister, unfamiliar with New Zealand’s rugby hierarchy, had no idea that this was a developmental side several tiers below the All Blacks’ top squad.
Following the defeat, Ekanayake had reportedly told the Minister that the selectors and coaching staff had squandered a “golden opportunity” to beat New Zealand, despite the glaring mismatch in talent and preparation. He repeated the criticism in a YouTube interview, blaming the selectors for fielding a second-string side, while insiders allege that Ekanayake was orchestrating a larger plan to replace the coaching staff with a foreign professional, a practice critics say has become a lucrative contract-based business facilitated through agents.
National coach Sanath Martis not wanting to be ridiculed and being made a scapegoat immediately stepped down from his role shortly thereafter. This is after he had selflessly offered his services free of charge, having successfully steered the Sri Lanka Rugby team back into Asia Rugby’s top tier ahead of the recent New Zealand Under-85kg matches. His departure raises serious questions not just about the lack of support he received, but about the financial priorities of Sri Lanka Rugby. Despite claiming an inability to compensate local experts like Martis, the Interim Task Force, led by Chairman M.R. Latiff, has somehow managed to secure funds to hire a high-profile New Zealand Sevens coach. Where this money is coming from, and how it suddenly became available, remains a mystery.
Deeper Issues: Political Holdovers and Conflicts of Interest
Thilakaratne is also said to be frustrated that both Priyantha Ekanayake and Director General of Sports Shemal Fernando key figures still influencing decision-making continue to wield significant power, allegedly bypassing the authority of elected officials.
The Deputy Minister, known for his commitment to athlete welfare and ethical governance, believes the current setup undermines the spirit of the National People’s Power (NPP), which nominated him specifically to bring professionalism and credibility into Sri Lanka’s sporting system.
With tensions mounting, Thilakaratne’s exit could deal a major blow to the credibility of the Ministry of Sports and further expose deep-rooted administrative dysfunction at a time, when Sri Lankan sport is under intense scrutiny both at home and internationally.
No official resignation letter has been received as of yet, but multiple ministry sources confirm that an announcement is imminent.
I can’t understand this unbelievable behaviour of this people’s government, they are surrounded by some famous unpopular characters who operate underground to destroy the administration and it’s hightime to realise this situation.
With all respect your Excellency President Dissanayake, for your DISCRETION. I am boldly pointing my finger at chairman of NSC. What I see is he functions with pride, prominence and arrogance. A person with pride, prominence, popularity and arrogance will lead himself from something to nothing, that I believe in my FAITH.
Dear Mr. President Dissanayake, you came to power promising systems change. But what I see and hear is a system malfunction in SL RUGBY union driven by favouritism and politics. Unless a person with Humbleness, righteousness and wisdom at the top of the hierarchy, a system will not function efficiently.
Sometimes it gives me a sense of belief that the NSC chairman was appointed based on political connections, rather than eligibility because there are many respected rugby legends likes of Dr. Ananda Kumaraswamy, Michael Jayasekera and many more who are most eligible to be at the NSC hierarchy.
Your Excellency President Dissanayake it is now or never your intervention is required putting things right in SLRFU without procrastinating .
With all respect your Excellency President Dissanayake, for your DISCRETION. I am boldly pointing my finger at chairman of NSC. What I see is he functions with pride, prominence and arrogance. A person with pride, prominence, popularity and arrogance will lead himself from something to nothing, that I believe in my FAITH.
Dear Mr. President Dissanayake, you came to power promising systems change. But what I see and hear is a system malfunction in SL RUGBY union driven by favouritism and politics. Unless a person with Humbleness, righteousness and wisdom at the top of the hierarchy, a system will not function efficiently.
Sometimes it gives me a sense of belief that the NSC chairman was appointed based on political connections, rather than eligibility because there are many respected rugby legends likes of Dr. Ananda Kumaraswamy, Michael Jayasekera and many more who are most eligible to be at the NSC hierarchy.
Your Excellency President Dissanayake it is now or never your intervention is required putting things right at SLRFU without procrastinating.
Apologies. Correction to my comment on 28.05.2025 at 22:39 , Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy should be corrected as Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy.
I am sorry for the error made.