New Brooms, Same Dust: NPP’s Sporting Shame

From boxing blunders to shady ammo deals and “charitable” jerseys, the NPP’s anti-corruption image is being mocked from within its own sporting circles

They came into power promising to wipe the slate clean. They stood on platforms of integrity, pledged to uproot corruption, and made the public believe that a new era of accountability had dawned. But fast forward just months into their rule, and it’s becoming hard to tell if the National People’s Power (NPP) government is fighting corruption or hosting it in committee chairs across the national sports landscape.

Let’s just say it’s beginning to feel like a joke that writes itself, and if it isn’t nipped now, this tragicomedy could quickly cascade into every sports federation in the country.

Sriyani Kulawansa: Chair in Name, Power in Absence?

At the center of this swirling mess is Sriyani Kulawansa, former track queen and now the Chairperson of the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC). Her position and its relevance came under serious question when the Sri Lanka Boxing Association (SLBA) audaciously decided to send a team of three boxers, an official, and a coach to compete in the Seychelles Boxing Meet without the green light from either the Ministry of Sports or the NSSC, which she leads.

Let’s spell that out: a national team traveled abroad wearing the flag with no official approval. And what happened after this violation of protocol? Absolutely nothing.

The media raised the red flag. Silence followed. No reprimands. No accountability. No action from Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, either.

So what’s the point of having Kulawansa and her committee in place if federations are just going to do whatever they please anyway? It now seems the NSSC’s role is reduced to political décor like glittering ornaments on a Christmas tree, admired, untouched, and ultimately meaningless.

Shirantha Peiris: From Campaign Stages to Ammo Sales

Then there’s Shirantha Peiris, President of the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF), who if allegations are to be believed may be better suited running a tactical gear store than a national sports body.

Accused of illegally importing weapons and ammunition, money laundering, and reselling to third parties for personal profit, Peiris’ case was initially buried, but now, under increasing pressure, has been quietly reopened. While his term as NSSF president has expired, and regulations state he’s no longer eligible to serve after 12 years in executive roles, he’s still hanging around, thanks to delayed AGMs and a baffling absence of enforcement.

Let’s not forget the recent damning District Court ruling, where Peiris along with 18 others received a ruling against them which involved a respected and decorated international NSSF official who was falsely accused and banned from even officiating at international shoorting events for years. The Morning Telegraph will shortly publish a full story with all details regarding this incident.

The same Shirantha Peiris who campaigned for the NPP, appeared on public platforms, and told voters that the old corrupt guard had to go. Apparently, the reward for that performance was a shiny new title: Chairman of the Lotus Tower. Did no one in the NPP vet his background? Or was the tower just the right height to bury his past?

Meanwhile, he still inexplicably holds the post of Treasurer of the National Olympic Committee. The question echoes louder each day: How? And why?

Rohan Abeykoon: Sports Law? What’s That?

And last, but certainly not least, there’s Rohan Abeykoon, currently a committee member of the National Sports Council, who’s walking around blatantly violating Sports Law with a tailor-made grin.

As a registered supplier of sportswear to Sri Lanka Cricket, Abeykoon is legally disqualified from serving on the NSC due to conflict of interest. But instead of stepping back, he’s stitching up new violations like when he “donated” Rs. 850,000 worth of rugby jerseys to the national team for their New Zealand Under 85kg series.

Nice gesture? Sure. Legally problematic? Absolutely. And no, two wrongs don’t make a right, even if the jerseys are free.

If Abeykoon really wants to do charity, perhaps he should start by resigning from the NSC and volunteering legally. Because “I broke the law, but I did it generously” is not a defense recognized in any governance manual.

Time to Step Aside Or Be Shoved

With this circus growing, the time for quiet embarrassment has passed. The NPP came to power with a promise to sweep away the rot, but it now looks like the broom has been handed to the very people it was supposed to clean out.

If the government is serious about good governance, then Sriyani Kulawansa, Shirantha Peiris, and Rohan Abeykoon must be asked if not forced to step aside immediately. Let the NPP prove that their anti-corruption campaign wasn’t just an election slogan, but a genuine effort to rebuild public trust.

The public didn’t vote for another chapter in the same corrupt book. They voted for a new story.

Let’s hope the authors haven’t already gone rogue.