Sri Lanka Athletics resignations follow claims that officials changed team selections without consulting the committee or explaining decisions.
The Sri Lanka Athletics resignations have thrown the sport into fresh turmoil after every member of its selection committee stepped down on July 27.
The selectors said they resigned because authorities had repeatedly interfered with decisions made through their professional selection process.
Committee members officially submitted a joint resignation letter carrying all their signatures.
Retired Colonel Lal Jayasekara, Ravi Vidyalankara and D.A. Dayaratna told the media that unnecessary outside influence had made it impossible for them to continue working independently.
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Sri Lanka Athletics Resignations Follow Selection Disputes
Jayasekara said the committee had operated without interference for about a year and a half. However, he claimed the situation changed recently.
“We worked independently without any influence for about a year and a half,” he said.
“However, recently external influences began to affect our selections. Athletes we selected were removed, and athletes we did not recommend were included in teams. These actions were taken without any consultation with us.”
Vidyalankara said authorities did not even inform selectors when changing the nominations they had submitted.
He added that committee members often discovered those changes only through newspapers or social media. According to him, that approach undermined the committee’s authority and professional integrity.
Dayaratna, who served on the selection committee for 11 years, stressed that its members worked voluntarily.
“We do this work expecting no salary or privileges,” he said.
“It is a voluntary service based on our experience and subject knowledge. But when our selections are disregarded and we are ignored, there is no point in remaining here any longer.”
The departing selectors also alleged that officials had abandoned the scientific and transparent procedures required for athlete selection.
They said they could no longer guarantee fair treatment for athletes and their parents while authorities changed selections without consultation.
The collective resignation leaves Sri Lanka Athletics facing immediate questions over how future national teams will be selected and whether the authorities will address the allegations raised by the former committee.
