* International Olympic Committee conveys its blessings to proceed
In light of numerous allegations of embezzlement, fraud, corruption, manipulation, human smuggling, and bribery involving corrupt officials within the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, the appointed Ethics Committee has officially called for the “immediate suspension” of Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, pending further investigation by law enforcement. It is confirmed that even the International Olympic Committee has endorsed this decision to move forward.
Over the last several months The Morning Telegraph did publish a series of articles naming not only the NOCSL Sec.General De Silva but also highlighting the rest of his gang, key players who have played significant roles as a team blatantly committing acts such as misappropriation of funds (per diems or fraudulent bills submitted as expenses), financial deceit, unethical practices, exploitation, human trafficking of individuals, and accepting illicit payments.
However, this decision comes after an inquiry was initially conducted by a three-member committee appointed earlier this year by former Minister of Sports, Harin Fernando.
The inquiry focused on “allegations of financial misconduct” involving de Silva and former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando, specifically related to the “2016 Rio Olympics.”
The investigation also revealed that the NOCSL violated regulations by sending “six individuals to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games” without obtaining approval from the Sports Ministry. Among the 176 travelers (170 approved and six unauthorized), 12 absconded during the event, causing significant damage to the country’s reputation. The six unauthorized participants were included without proper approvals.
The committee, led by Director General of Sports, Dr. Shemal Fernando, alongside retired DIG Jagath Hemantha Fonseka and retired Deputy Auditor General N.R. Manel Dharmasiri, submitted their findings on February 6, 2024. Despite these findings and subsequent recommendations being made, no action was taken against the named individuals. It is alleged that this document was believed to be concealed by an influential person appointed as consultant to the Minister of Sports who was subsequently rewarded with a trip to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and who also was a part of three member committee who stated that there was no fraud committed in the famous Central Bank Bond Scam.
The current NOCSL President, Suresh Subramanium, had subsequently requested an investigation following allegations made in Parliament last year. These claims suggested that both the former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando and the current Secretary General Maxwell De Silva were involved in “fraudulently taking funds” for overseas travel and were involved in “human smuggling” on the pretext of sending both athletes and officials to international competitions.
The subsequent Ethics Committee appointed by the NOCSL and chaired by Dinal Philips, PC, which included Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema and Ashan Stanislaus, further commented that the conduct of NOCSL officers implicated in the report was “unbecoming of an officer” of such a prestigious institution. The report pointed out that despite the findings being made as early as February 2024, the actions of the implicated officers “have gone unnoticed” and have tarnished the good name of the NOCSL. “We cannot simply condone such apathy,” the committee stated, emphasizing that some of the allegations are “tainted with criminality.”
“In the aforesaid circumstances,” the Ethics Committee stated in its report on September 4, 2024, that the NOCSL should “take serious cognizance” of the findings and take “immediate action to suspend” Secretary General de Silva pending further investigations. The committee also recommended bringing their views to the attention of the “International Olympic Committee forthwith.”
The inquiry also examined a government audit revealing that both the former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando and current Secretary General Maxwell De Silva each claimed “$10,000 for travel and accommodation” during the Rio Olympics, despite receiving funds from the International Olympic Committee. These monies were not returned until over a year later, further raising concerns about financial mismanagement. Further besides these figures the duo also submitted claims and pocketed approximately another Rs 4 million between themselves. This was identified by the Auditor General.
It can be further revealed that during the Rio 2016 Olympics, Maxwell De Silva, showing his dedication to family, brought along his daughter as the Liaison Officer for the Sri Lankan contingent, and his wife for “moral support.” Instead of staying at the athletes’ village, where he was obligated to stay as Chef de Mission, the family enjoyed a luxurious hotel that cost $500 per night.
The most audacious part? De Silva double-dipped, submitting multiple claims for the same room and airfare, despite already receiving funds from the Ministry of Sports, the IOC, and also submitting the same claims to the NOCSL. Not stopping there, Maxwell ensured his daughter received an additional $100 per day for her “services” as Liaison Officer, though the specifics of her role remain unclear. Given that 98% of Brazil’s population speaks Portuguese, one can only imagine what kind of “liaison” work was being done.
The matter has now been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by the Attorney General’s Department, although “no progress has been made” by the CID to date. The investigation report also indicates that de Silva “admitted to taking six people without ministerial approval,” a requirement under the law for participation in international sporting events. One of the unauthorized participants, Chaminda Kumara Mallawaarachchi, who had been banned from sports activities, was among those who absconded, raising concerns that the NOC may have been involved in “human smuggling” under the guise of sending athletes to international events.
While investigating this matter further, the NOCSL Secretary General Maxwell de Silva has had full control over the online registration of participants, coaches, and officials for international events. It is alleged that he has been adding extra names to accommodate individuals of his choosing, all while keeping other NOCSL Executive Committee members in the dark. This practice has reportedly allowed unauthorized personnel to enter countries like the UK illegally, as seen during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Ethics Committee recommended introducing a “financial bond” system to prevent such incidents from recurring. Furthermore, the committee reviewed written statements from key officials, including NOCSL President Subramanium, Secretary General de Silva, and other related individuals, but called for a deeper investigation to “tighten the noose” around other implicated parties.
The Ethics Committee concluded that urgent action is required to clean up the NOCSL and hold all those involved accountable. Without such action, Sri Lanka’s international sporting reputation will continue to suffer.
Among those called out for further scrutiny were Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe, Chandana Liyanage, Dinesh Krishnatha, Gobinath Sivarajah, and others involved in financial irregularities. The report highlighted the “shameless” state of Sri Lanka’s Olympic representation, with only “four athletes qualifying” for the 2024 Paris Olympics, a clear reflection of the dysfunction within Sri Lanka’s sports associations.
It must be also noted that prior to these finding and recommendations made by the current Ethics Committee, there was another Ethics Committee prior led by Dr. Harsha Cabraal PC and including Ms. A. Laduwahetty and Mr. Ray Abeywardena, who had been making significant progress in investigating multiple acts of fraud and corruption. However, their efforts were abruptly halted when the NOCSL Executive Committee, the majority of whom backed Secretary General Maxwell De Silva, unceremoniously removed them just as they were on the verge of exposing key malpractices within the organization.
It has also been brought to attention that the legitimacy of Maxwell De Silva’s position as Secretary General of the NOCSL requires further investigation. Recently, a whistleblower named M.H.Usuph reached out to the Sri Lanka Tennis Association and revealed that although De Silva was elected as the President of the Association, there is no record of him having participated in tennis at a level that would qualify him for the role. Similarly, De Silva managed to secure the position of Assistant Treasurer in the Sri Lanka Judo Association, despite having no background in judo or qualifications in finance, raising further concerns about his involvement in various sports bodies.
