* Committee uncovers NOCSL’s unauthorized misconduct and glaring allegations of Human Smuggling besides fraud
An investigation by a three-member committee appointed by Minister of Sports Harin Fernando has unearthed a string of unauthorized actions by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL). Among the most glaring violations was the unauthorized inclusion of six individuals in the delegation to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games without the sports ministry’s approval as 12 members of the 176-strong delegation conveniently vanished during the games.
The investigative committee, led by Director General of Sports Rear Admiral (Rtd) Prof. Shemal Fernando and flanked by retired DIG Jagath Hemantha Fonseka and retired Deputy Auditor General NR Manel Dharmasiri, submitted their eye-opening report on February 6, 2024.
The report, with its glaring observations, needs to be acted upon swiftly; otherwise, it risks becoming just another addition to someone’s paper collection, like so many other investigations and revelations before it.
In a masterstroke of delegation, Dr. Fernando noted, “We made our recommendations to the minister, and in turn, he asked the NOCSL to implement those.”
NOCSL President Suresh Subramanium had initially called for the investigation after some pesky allegations in parliament was made last year claiming that the NOCSL bigwigs were playing fast and loose with funds and indulging in a bit of human smuggling under the guise of sportsmanship.
The report lays bare that Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, who has held his post since 2009, admitted to sneaking six people past ministerial approval which is mandatory for international sporting events.
De Silva justified this by saying the NOCSL Executive Committee approved the extra members and blamed the economic crisis for the 12 disappearances.
Among the unauthorized was one Chaminda Kumara Mallawaarachchi, who joined the team as an NOC invitee despite being banned from sports activities. Naturally, Mallawaarachchi disappeared, raising suspicions of human smuggling.
However, another key element in this entire human smuggling saga demands further investigation: how a team of boxers from the Sri Lanka Army managed to secure spots at the Commonwealth Games and then pulled their vanishing act in the United Kingdom. The elephant in the room no one talks about is the rigged boxing trials for Commonwealth Games selection, overseen by Sri Lanka Boxing Selection Chief General (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya. He even brought in an IOC-banned referee, Udeni Kiridena, to help with the trials. The ranking system was masterfully manipulated to ensure the inclusion of the SL Army boxers, securing their passage to the UK. Was this part of the human smuggling operation facilitated by NOCSL Secretary General Maxwell De Silva, who has a well-documented history of such activities? And, in a twist of irony, General (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya still sits comfortably as a member of the National Sports Council, appointed by none other than the current Minister of Sports, Harin Fernando.
The committee suggested a financial bond with participants to prevent future escapades. They reviewed statements from NOC President Suresh Subramanium, Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, Wrestling Association President Sarath Janaka Hewawitharana, NOCSL Accountant R.P.S. Seneviratne, Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe, and numerous documents, including Auditor General’s reports.
For a touch of financial drama, the report scrutinized claims that de Silva and former President Hemasiri Fernando each pocketed US$10,000 for Rio Olympics travel and accommodation, only to double-dip with compensation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They finally reimbursed the NOC a year later, though they were cleared by an NOCSL-appointed committee. However, the committee led by Dr. Fernando rejected this clearing.
As the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Ministry of Sports tossed the case to the Criminal Investigation Department, progress has been as swift as a glacier, and many believe that NOCSL Sec. General who has been dodging officials and investigations and also influencing corrupt government officials from shielding him for so long will all but come to an end soon. Many also believe that his closest ally and buddy Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe will also be caught soon.
Meanwhile the much-needed forensic audit whilst approved at the 2021 Annual General Meeting is still being delayed by those same officials namely Secretary General Maxwell De Silva and Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe who from the period of 2009 to 2018 have submitted the NOCSL accounts for only the year 2016. There has been no proper accountability for many allegations made towards corruption, fraud, racketeering, forgery, and human smuggling.
The NOCSL Secretary De Silva and Treasurer Jayasinghe have allegedly perfected the art of delaying investigations against them for years. Some suggest their secret involves showering officials with perks, hampers, and the occasional overseas trip. Scholarships from global bodies? Those are conveniently handed to the relatives of their cronies, like the diving scholarship that magically landed in the lap of Mahinda Liyanage’s nephew, while far more deserving diving athletes were left high and dry. And the funds meant for athletes? They seem to vanish into thin air under these officials’ watch.
So, as the 2024 Olympics approach, the big question remains: will there finally be accountability, or will the International Olympic Committee step in due to the shame and indignity brought on by how officials have been managing the day-to-day affairs of the NOCSL, tarnishing the esteemed reputation of the sports body that is supposed to reign supreme among all sports? Will the responsible parties face the consequences of their actions, or will this be yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of corruption and mismanagement? And how long can the NOCSL continue to operate under such scandalous circumstances before real change is enforced?
