The Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, is yet to remove National Sports Council (NSC) member Rohan Abeykoon, despite overwhelming evidence that his appointment violates Sri Lanka’s Sports Law. The Morning Telegraph recently published a verified invoice linked to a company allegedly operated by Abeykoon and his wife, which supplied sportswear to Sri Lanka Cricket.
The invoice, dated July 26, 2023, details the provision of 622 digitally printed T-shirts with Chinese collars for a staggering Rs 1.55 million. It was fully settled on August 14, 2023, and covered fabric printing, transferring, and sewing charges. Under existing regulations, individuals affiliated with companies providing goods or services to sports bodies are not eligible to hold positions in government-appointed sports councils.
This raises serious questions about double standards, especially considering past precedents. Former Referees Association President Dilroy Fernando was previously barred from holding office at Sri Lanka Rugby due to his ownership of a sports goods business. The law must be applied equally, and Abeykoon’s continued presence on the NSC sends a contradictory message.
Adding to the controversy, Abeykoon and NSC Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake had recently embarrassed Minister Gamage when they accepted appointments to a five-member Task Force overseeing Sri Lanka Rugby, despite regulations prohibiting simultaneous membership in both the NSC and any national sports body. The appointments were declared illegal, and the minister had to issue a revised gazette, removing both Ekanayake and Abeykoon. They were replaced by Ravi Wijenathan and DIG (Rtd) Hafeel Marso.
However, the situation took another bizarre twist when letters allegedly from Ekanayake and Abeykoon, dated the same day as the initial gazette, surfaced on social media. The letters claimed both had politely declined the Task Force roles. Upon closer inspection, both letters appeared to be drafted possibly by the same individual, but bore a glaring error. Rohan Abeykoon’s surname was misspelled as “Abayakoon,” despite his name consistently being reported as “Abeykoon” in the media for over four decades.
Critics argue that this blunder further undermines the credibility of the NSC and casts doubt on the transparency of its operations. They also express disappointment that Abeykoon accepted the NSC position, knowing it contravened established rules.
Minister Gamage, whose financial background is not in dispute, is now under increasing pressure to correct what appears to be a serious lapse in governance. As the National People’s Power (NPP) government came into office promising to uphold integrity and fight corruption, many now await decisive action to restore public confidence and ensure accountability within the Ministry of Sports.
