By Roy Densih
A luxury Rolex, hidden cash, and missing sports equipment have turned Sri Lanka’s sporting administration into an unexpected comedy of errors, raising serious questions about accountability, transparency, and priorities at the highest levels of sport.
Oh, what a time to be alive and athletic in Sri Lanka! The island’s top sports bosses have joyfully filed paperwork to officially rebrand themselves as the National Committee of Omission and Chronographs, proving that administrative agility can be a beautiful sport in its own right. This spectacular makeover follows a wonderfully chaotic game of hide-and-seek, where auditors looking for misplaced javelins accidentally stumbled upon a treasure hunt extravaganza. Tucked snugly in the cozy shadows behind a heavy steel safe was a beautifully lacquered green box containing a pristine Rolex watch and a cheerful stack of €2,800 in cash – just sitting there like a festive surprise waiting to be unwrapped.
Naturally, the front office welcomed the discovery with open arms and big smiles, explaining that a premium Swiss timepiece is a vital piece of track-and-field equipment. After all, how can local sprinters possibly shave off milliseconds if their administrators don’t know the exact time in Geneva down to the very vibration of a luxury crystal? The €2,800 wasn’t a cheeky bribe at all, they laughed, but rather a completely innocent “temporal handling fee” meant to keep the wheels of bureaucracy spinning as smoothly as a self-winding perpetual rotor. Fans are already cheering for this delightfully creative approach to sports funding, eagerly anticipating the day “Synchronized Safe-Watching” becomes a mainstream event under the committee’s dazzling new golden rule: Faster, Higher, Stronger, Swiss-ius!
Those responsible have serious questions to answer regarding their past stewardship of Sri Lanka Rugby, including the £50,000 fine imposed on SLR, the accumulation of debts reportedly exceeding Rs. 35 million, and the collapse of several companies that subsequently went into liquidation. Allegations have also been raised that key individuals distanced themselves from accountability by offloading shareholdings while others were left to face the consequences, with some directors reportedly now in remand custody.
Furthermore, concerns have been expressed that the former NOC President was aware of matters relating to the alleged Rolex and US Dollar bribery scandal and failed to ensure full transparency and accountability.
In the interest of good governance, transparency, and protecting the integrity of sport, the Minister should consider appointing an interim administration to oversee the affairs of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka pending an independent investigation. Any findings of wrongdoing should be referred to the appropriate authorities, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, for further action in accordance with the law.
They are Shameless and they control all these acts with politically powered