The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIAOBC) has called upon an official from the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) to attend a probing session on May 17, 2023. This investigation follows a complaint by Judo athlete Chamara Nuwan Dharmawardena, who alleges unfair exclusion from the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The CIAOBC demands the NOCSL provide documentation including names of Selection Committee members, financial reports, and the criteria and rationale behind athlete selections. This inquiry digs deeper into accusations of longstanding misconduct within the Judo Federation of Sri Lanka, notably involving Maxwell De Silva, the Secretary General of NOCSL and current Assistant Treasurer of the Judo Federation.
Adding to the controversy, the Judo Federation previously made headlines during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when a Judoka athlete and a coach deserted the athletes’ village, never to return to Sri Lanka. These incidents are part of a broader investigation into a suspected human smuggling operation involving various athletes and officials.
In the latest twist, Dharmawardena, the former national Judo team captain and reigning champion, claims his non-selection for the Paris Games was unjustified. He alleges that funds previously allocated to him for training from the Olympic Solidarity fund were inappropriately redirected to another Judoka, supposedly the nephew of the former Judo President who now lives abroad.
Maxwell De Silva, already under scrutiny for multiple infractions including financial mismanagement during the Rio 2016 Olympics and violating national sports laws by holding positions in multiple sports associations, is expected to evade this investigation as he has in the past. His absence from a prior hearing in December 2023, along with delays in subsequent inquiries, suggests a pattern of obstructive practices possibly aided by other officials within government offices and also within sports community.
Furthermore, De Silva faces international scrutiny as the Olympic Council of Asia investigates his alleged role in disrupting OCA elections. He is accused of meeting with the now-banned Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in Thailand, from whom he reportedly received US $250,000 along with specific instructions.
This complex web of allegations paints a troubling picture of governance within Sri Lanka’s sports administration, casting a long shadow over the integrity of its operations and the fairness in athlete selection.
Over the years, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has unfortunately become a breeding ground for questionable financial activities. Revelations came to light when The Morning Telegraph reported on corrupt dealings involving key officials, prompting immediate fallout.
Both Lalith Vithana (NOCSL – Chairman of Finance) and Maj.Gen (Rtd) Dampath Fernando, resigned and swiftly departed their positions amid fears that further scrutiny would uncover more about their illicit activities.
The controversy doesn’t end there.
Chandana Liyanage, an assistant to Secretary Maxwell De Silva, was reportedly dismissed from his mercantile employer recently, and Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe, who notably lacks a finance background, was caught in a media scandal for allegedly accepting ‘protection’ payments from Potta Naufer, a notorious inmate convicted of murdering a High Court Judge. It’s alleged that even Treasurer Jayasinghe’s hockey trips to Bangkok were also funded by ‘Potta’ Naufer.
These claims are supported by a documented history of questionable incidents, underscoring the deep-rooted issues within NOCSL. Additionally, there is significant resistance within the organization against conducting a forensic audit, despite it being approved at the NOCSL Annual General Meeting.
Such an audit is seen as crucial for revealing the full extent of the corruption that has plagued the committee for years.
Some suggest that an audit of Secretary General De Silva could potentially uncover the extent of ill-gotten gains he has amassed through bribes, commissions, and kickbacks during his more than two decades of so-called honorary service.
Maxwell De Silva Sec.General NOCSL avoided attending this investigation earlier in December 2023. CIAOBC officials have yet to reschedule in this inquiry.1
