Two ‘tainted’ NOC Board members throw in the towel
After Maxwell de Silva was suspended from his role as Secretary General of the NOC, due to severe governance failures and allegations of financial misconduct, Vice President Suranjith Premadasa and Treasurer Gamini Jayasinghe stepped down, citing ‘health’ and ‘personal’ reasons respectively.
Suranjith Premadasa (3rd from left) and Gamini Jayasinghe (3rd from right) with the current NOC Board members
On February 17, the OCA delivered a crushing blow to the NOC, refusing to release funds until the local body expels all officials tainted by corruption. This decision is a continuation of the financial suspension imposed by both the OCA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in December last year, following severe governance failures—particularly those linked to de Silva.
“The OCA is willing to reconsider your request in the best interest of the athletes, as they should not suffer. However, before we even entertain discussions, the directives in the joint IOC-OCA letters must be fully implemented. Those implicated in corruption must step aside entirely—they have no place in the present or future affairs of the NOC,” the OCA stated in a letter addressed to NOC President Suresh Subramaniam.
It is clear that the OCA is well aware that de Silva’s allies remain entrenched within the NOC, obstructing reform at every turn. Officials such as Chandana Liyanage, Gamini Jayasinghe, and Suranjith Premadasa, who thrived under de Silva’s rule, have actively resisted the implementation of the Ethics Committee’s recommendations. These individuals, having enjoyed foreign trips and lavish perks under de Silva’s leadership, now find themselves at the centre of the storm.
Thus, the resignations of Premadasa and Jayasinghe offer fresh hope to an institution long tainted by allegations of corruption and self-serving individuals. This will allow the NOC to make a fresh request to the OCA and the IOC to reconsider their decision to freeze funds, as the cleanup process gains momentum.
Although Premadasa and Jayasinghe have long survived at the NOC, many questions remain about their contributions to the sports they represented. Premadasa is the President of the Equestrian Association, a nominal institution that has barely contributed to the sport’s development. Meanwhile, Jayasinghe has involved with hockey, baseball, winter sports, teqball and dancesports—seemingly to maintain his position at the NOC, a privilege he has enjoyed for several years.
Subramaniam, who has fought to bring transparency and accountability to the institution, still believes that a few individuals remain in denial about the impending crisis. He expects them to follow suit, allowing people of integrity to take charge of the country’s premier sports body.
With Sri Lanka’s participation at key international events such as the South Asian Games (SAG) and the Commonwealth Games at risk, Subramaniam warned in a letter to the Executive Board and members that the ongoing financial blockade would cripple the country’s sporting ambitions.
“I am of the view that it is the bounden duty of the Members of the EB of the NOC to ensure that IOC/OCA funding is restored at the earliest to avoid any further prejudice to the NOC as well as to the athletes of this country,” he wrote.
“Hence, we should act swiftly to rid the NOC of all members, including Executive Board members, against whom corruption allegations have been made, with a view to restoring the image and reputation of the NOC and securing the urgently required funding from the IOC/OCA, which is of immense benefit to the athletes of this country.”
Determined to restore credibility, Subramaniam has initiated a forensic audit to scrutinise key financial areas, including the Olympic Solidarity Fund—funds meant for athlete development but long suspected of mismanagement—the Athletes Commission, the Forest Cover Project (an initiative meant to promote environmental sustainability but now under scrutiny for financial irregularities), and so-called ‘paper associations’ like Fencing and Modern Pentathlon.