Dian Gomes, the President of the Sri Lanka Boxing Association through his Vice President Hemantha Weerasinghe submitted a letter to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka on the 30th of January 2024, accusing its Secretary General Maxwell De Silva of fraud.
The (Rtd) Lt. Col and SLBA Vice President Weerasinghe wrote “I would like to get your clarification on the AGM regarding my request to have a forensic audit.”
Whilst elaborating further, Weerasinghe went on to accuse Maxwell De Silva the Sec.General of the NOCSL of pocketing funds when it was unconstitutional for him to do so and for also funding the NOCSL stationery supplier a fully sponsored VVIP trip to attend the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in 2022.
Weerasinghe wrote ” (1) Mr. Maxwell De Silva — Secretary General has been paid a per diem on all his trips ie. even the Asian Games (2018 and 2022) and Commonwealth Games (2018 and 2023) and Olympic Games (2021) in Japan. He mentioned that he obtained these payments as per the Travel Policy. Although there is a Travel Policy set by the Executive Committee, our NOC Constitution clearly states that the Executive Members cannot be paid a per diem allowance when all expenses Air Tickets, Accommodation (Hotel and food) are provided no payments cannot be obtained — This is a fraud.” (2) Was there any expense by the NOC of sending people for the Commonwealth Games and why Mr. Aravinda who provided stationery for the National Olympic Committee participated as a VVIP to the games? (3) Mr. Mallawarachchi from the Wrestling Federation attended the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Please explain the basis of how this has happened? Why did the National Olympic Committee spend on Ticket and accommodation for the Boxing Tournament held in Taipei and also pay money and accommodation for the Asian Games for the Boxer Niranjan Wijewardene who had not taken part in a single Boxing trial or any domestic tournament in 2023?
However on the following day the Vice President of the SLBA Weerasinghe sent in another letter addressed to the NOCSL dated the 31st January 2024 stating that minutes of the AGM need to be amended after the NOCSL Sec. General had informed its members that Dian Gomes and Lt.Col. Weerasinghe were mere invitees tand not members who were attending the NOCSL AGM.
Lt.Col (Rtd) Weerasinghe wrote “As the Secretary General, he had no authority nor the jurisdiction to make that comment and exclude the Boxing Association attending the AGM.”
Those present at the NOCSL AGM state that tempers were flared when Dian Gomes was belittled by that comment made by the NOCSL Sec.General De Silva and had in retaliation posed certain questions pertaining to finance.
“It seemed quite evident that there was a slight spat taking place between Dian Gomes and Maxi at the AGM. Dian was accusing Maxi of pocketing funds and Maxi brought up the sensitive issue as to how Dian’s two daughters were made to represent Sri Lanka in synchronized swimming at the Asian Games held in Doha in 2006. Seems like old friends, once chums have now become enemies. The truth of the matter is that up until 2018 the NOCSL with Secretary General Maxi and also Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe controlling things there was hardly an AGM being conducted or annual accounts being tabled. Even at the last AGM the Treasurer Jayasinghe could hardly answer any of the financial questions that were posed to him. It was Maxi who was answering those questions on his behalf” said a President of a Sports Federation on condition of anonymity.
The Vice President SLBA then concluded his second letter by stating ” When Dian Gomes asked questions about finances, the Secretary General was trying to shut Mr. Gomes by bringing personal stuff which included insulting his two daughters who represented Sri Lanka at 2006 Asian Games in Doha. They were finalists at the games and insulted the family which provoked Dian to scream and shout. But after the meeting in front of MC Suresh Subramaniam, Mr. Gomes shook hands and apologized to Maxwell for the accusation of shouting ‘Hora’. If the Para in Page No. 4 is included, you have to include the whole story as well. So, either delete para 3 of Page 4 or record the whole story.”
