By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Amid intensifying ethics investigations and a firm directive from the IOC and OCA, the Presidents and senior officials of the Football, Gymnastics and Basketball federations have been formally barred from attending the March 14 Special General Meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, in what has rapidly escalated into a dramatic governance showdown within the country’s Olympic movement.
A governance storm has erupted at the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) after its President Suresh Subramaniam issued formal directives prohibiting three senior sports administrators from attending the upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for March 14, 2026.
The letters, dated February 24, 2026 and issued from “Olympic House” on Independence Avenue, cite ongoing disciplinary and ethics inquiries, as well as explicit instructions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Football Federation President Jaswar Umar Barred
In a strongly worded communication addressed to Jaswar Umar, President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, the NOCSL invoked Article 17 of its Constitution to formally prohibit him from attending the March 14 SGM.
The NOCSL confirmed that:
- A Letter of Show Cause was issued to Umar on December 8, 2025.
- The Disciplinary Committee delivered its decision on January 9, 2026.
- A formal affidavit/complaint dated January 28, 2026 was submitted to the Ethics Committee by Mr. Rohan Prithiviraj Perera.
The Disciplinary Committee found that the matters raised “serious issues affecting the governance, administration and financial operations” of the NOCSL and unanimously recommended that a formal inquiry be conducted and placed before the Executive Board.
As a result, a formal Ethics Committee inquiry is now pending against Umar.
Additionally, the NOCSL stated it is aware of information in the public domain suggesting that Umar is currently under investigation by statutory authorities in relation to alleged fraud and other criminal matters.
IOC and OCA Directive Cited
Central to the NOCSL’s action is a joint letter from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) dated January 12, 2026.
The IOC/OCA directive clearly states that any NOCSL member or official “currently under investigation and/or sanction should refrain from any involvement in the NOCSL” and should not attend any General Assembly or run for office.
Citing this directive, the NOCSL formally instructed that Jaswar Umar must refrain from attending the SGM on March 14 or any rescheduled date until the conclusion of the Ethics Committee inquiry.
The Football Federation has also been warned not to nominate him as one of its three delegates (one of whom must be female). Failure to comply, the letter states, would result in the Federation losing its right to representation at the SGM and facing disciplinary action.
Gymnastics Vice President Also Prohibited
In a parallel letter, the NOCSL directed R. A. K. Jeewantha, Vice President of the Gymnastics Federation of Sri Lanka, to refrain from attending the SGM.
Jeewantha too was issued:
- A Show Cause letter dated December 8, 2025.
- A Disciplinary Committee decision dated January 9, 2026.
- A formal complaint before the Ethics Committee dated January 28, 2026.
The same IOC/OCA directive was cited in barring him from participation pending the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
The NOCSL emphasized that no national federation may nominate Jeewantha as a delegate until the Ethics Committee process is completed.
Basketball Official Wing Commander (Rtd) Chandana Liyanage barred too
A third letter was addressed to Wing Commander (Rtd) Chandana Liyanage, connected to the Basketball Federation of Sri Lanka.
The same sequence of disciplinary measures applies:
- Show Cause letter (December 8, 2025)
- Disciplinary Committee ruling (January 9, 2026)
- Ethics Committee complaint (January 28, 2026)
Liyanage has also been formally barred from attending the March 14 SGM under the authority of Article 17 of the NOCSL Constitution and the January 12 IOC/OCA directive.
The Basketball Federation has likewise been warned not to nominate him. Any refusal to comply may result in loss of voting representation and further disciplinary proceedings.
Governance Reform Under Spotlight
The NOCSL’s letters note that these actions come at a time when the Committee is implementing reforms aligned with IOC and OCA governance standards. The NOCSL Constitution binds the body to adhere to IOC directives.
The Special General Meeting on March 14 is expected to be a pivotal gathering as the NOCSL navigates ongoing reform and scrutiny.
The dramatic barring of three high-profile sports administrators signals a zero-tolerance stance on officials under investigation, at least for now.
Whether these measures will withstand further legal and political challenges remains to be seen. But one thing is clear – The battle for governance control within Sri Lanka’s Olympic movement has entered a decisive and highly public phase.
