Athletes and Sports Associations to Bear the Consequences Because of One Dishonest Man’s Defiant Rejection of Ethics Committee Suspension.
IOC Poised to Suspend NOCSL Membership if Inaction Persists
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have dealt the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) a severe blow by suspending all funding with immediate effect, barring direct payments to athletes on Olympic scholarships.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam, IOC’s James Macleod, Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity, and Olympism 365, and OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam cited ongoing governance failures and unresolved ethical disputes as the reasons behind this unprecedented decision.
The letter highlighted: “We refer to the various communications which we have received from your NOC over the past few weeks and months relating to the ongoing internal disputes and ethical issues within your NOC, as well as to the IOC’s self-explanatory communication and warning dated 5 November 2024.”
It further expressed deep disappointment over NOCSL’s failure to address critical issues raised by its own Ethics Committee: “Unfortunately, we understand that these internal disputes and ethical issues, in particular those raised by your NOC’s Ethics Committee, have yet to be addressed and resolved properly by your NOC.”
NOCSL’s Credibility in Ruins: IOC and OCA Enforce Financial Sanctions
Amid mounting allegations of fraud, corruption, blatant violations of Sri Lanka’s sports law, and even human smuggling, Secretary General Maxwell De Silva and several NOCSL Executive Committee Members including Vice Presidents Suranjith Premadasa and Kanchana Jayaratne, Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe, Assistant Secretary Chandana Liyanage, Assistant Treasurer Shirantha Peiris, and Executive Committee Members Niluka Karunaratne and Ruwan Alahakoon, are at the center of an escalating scandal.
De Silva’s refusal to accept the Ethics Committee’s findings has brought the situation to a boiling point. Despite the Ethics Committee’s report, which is based on a detailed 24-page investigation commissioned by the Ministry of Sports following parliamentary allegations of bribery, fraud, corruption, and human smuggling, De Silva has resisted stepping down, further deepening the crisis.
Faced with persistent inaction, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) were then compelled to act decisively in order to uphold principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability.
In a damning critique of NOCSL’s leadership, the letter stated: “This extremely regrettable situation, which has been seriously tarnishing the credibility and reputation of your NOC, has been going on for too long and has been creating a lot of uncertainty and doubts relating to the internal governance and operations of your NOC.”
The IOC and OCA then delivered a heavy blow, announcing an unprecedented suspension of financial payments to NOCSL, further emphasizing the gravity of the situation: “Consequently, we regret to inform you that the IOC/Olympic Solidarity and the OCA are no longer in a position to make any payments to your NOC, except for direct payments to athletes benefiting from Olympic scholarships. This protection and precautionary measure will apply with immediate effect and until further notice, i.e., until appropriate action is taken by your NOC to resolve its internal governance disputes and ethical issues.”
The sanctions highlight the severity of NOCSL’s governance failures and the urgency for immediate reforms to prevent further damage to Sri Lanka’s sporting reputation.
A Final Warning
The letter served as a stark warning to NOCSL to take immediate corrective action or face further consequences, including suspension of its IOC membership: “We strongly urge you to act without delay to address these ongoing governance and ethical issues. Failure to do so may result in further consequences, including suspension of your NOC’s membership in the IOC.”
This decisive move by the IOC and OCA marks a critical juncture for Sri Lanka’s sporting administration. NOCSL must act swiftly to rectify its governance failings and avoid further sanctions that could isolate the country from the global Olympic community.
Chairman OCA Ethics Committee Writes to President NOCSL
Meanwhile Debendranath Sarangi the Chairman, OCA Ethics Committee sent the following email to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam.
Dear President,
The email of Jerome addressed to you with a copy to Mr Vinod Tiwari, Deputy Director General of OCA dated 10th December 2024 reiterating his earlier email dated 5th November 2024 has been forwarded to me.
I find that no action has been taken yet by your Executive Board on the recommendations of the Ethics Committee of NOCSL regarding the unethical and unconstitutional conduct on the part of your Secretary General.
Please take note of the fact that as pointed out by Jerome, this serious governance issue is going to damage the reputation of NOCSL leading to harsh action by IOC.
Debendranath Sarangi
Chairman, OCA Ethics Committee
Editor’s Note:
A Year of Revelations: Fraud, Corruption, and Neglect at NOCSL”
For over a year, The Morning Telegraph has, through its reliable international sources, exposed rampant fraud and corruption stemming from the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL). Corrupt Executive Committee Members have shamelessly feathered their nests, lining their pockets with ill-gotten wealth while showing blatant disregard towards athletes, sports associations, and the nation at large.
The dire state of Sri Lankan sports is highlighted by the sobering fact that, out of a population of 22 million, only four athletes met the qualifying standards to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This dismal figure underscores the inefficacy and mismanagement within the country’s sports associations, which have failed to nurture talent and prioritize development.
Ministry of Sports’ Inaction
The Ministry of Sports also bears a significant share of the blame. Despite multiple reports exposing blatant violations of the country’s Sports Law, the Ministry has failed to act proactively or suspend corrupt NOCSL Executive Committee Members. Unlike past instances, such as the bans imposed on Major General (Rtd) Dampath Fernando and Gihan Dalpathado for similar violations, the current group of named individuals has been given free rein to continue their misconduct.
Secretary General Maxwell De Silva, in particular, has reportedly ensured loyalty within the Ministry by distributing hampers and financing overseas trips, effectively silencing opposition and turning officials into complicit bystanders.
Misuse of Funds and Solidarity Abuse
The Olympic Solidarity Fund has been exploited to serve personal agendas, with allegations that Secretary General Maxwell De Silva distributed funds to secure the support of his cohorts. Reports indicate that Assistant Treasurer Shirantha Peries, Vice President Suranjith Premadasa, and Niluka Karunaratne each received $10,000, with little to no accountability for these transactions. This blatant misuse of resources further deepens the crisis of credibility at NOCSL.
One of the most glaring issues remains the refusal to conduct a forensic audit, despite it being minuted at a previous AGM. Such an audit could uncover extensive layers of corruption that have long been swept under the rug.
A Call for Immediate Action
As the nation looks toward a new era under the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hopes are pinned on newly appointed Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage. It is imperative that this issue is dealt with immediately, and those implicated in corruption are suspended from their respective sports associations. Removing such individuals from positions of power within the NOCSL is essential to restore integrity and rebuild trust in Sri Lankan sports.
This long-overdue reckoning could finally put an end to years of unchecked corruption and neglect, paving the way for a brighter future for athletes and sports associations alike. The time for decisive action is now.
The IOC has a history of suspending nations for governance failures, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Japan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, North Korea, Kuwait, Russia, and Belarus. These countries with the exception of Russia and Belarus who continue to be suspended, have faced significant consequences, as reinstatement often takes years.
For Sri Lanka, such a suspension would be a devastating blow. The funding for 32 sports associations would cease immediately, crippling the development of athletes and sports programs across the nation. Adding to the gravity of the situation, cricket, Sri Lanka’s most celebrated sport, is set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. It would be a tragic loss if Sri Lanka were barred from participating in this historic event.
The IOC and OCA have made their position unmistakably clear. First, they excluded Secretary General Maxwell De Silva from the recent international meeting in Kosovo, signaling their strong disapproval of him. This was followed now by the suspension of all funding to the NOCSL. The final and most severe measure, a suspension of NOCSL’s membership now seems imminent and rather unavoidable, unless the organization swiftly addresses its governance failures.
This looming crisis highlights the alarming reality as to how one man’s defiance is holding an entire nation’s sporting fraternity hostage, impacting national sports associations and over a million athletes across the country.
