The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) is at risk of being banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as its Secretary General, Maxwell De Silva, continues to defy a suspension imposed for ethical violations and misconduct.
De Silva’s suspension, supported by the IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia, stems from findings of financial malpractice during the 2016 Rio Olympics, as detailed in an inquiry by the Ethics Committee. The allegations also implicate former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando and other senior officials.
A government audit revealed details, including De Silva and Fernando each claiming $10,000 (€9,500) for travel and accommodation during the Rio Olympics, despite already receiving payments from the IOC. The inquiry also uncovered unauthorized actions, such as the improper inclusion of six individuals in the Sri Lankan delegation to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, bypassing necessary approvals from the Ministry of Sports.
Other allegations of corruption include; Vice Presidents Shirantha Peiris and Suranjith Premadas misappropriating funds for the development of a shooting range and horse-riding facilities on their private properties and finance Committee’s Shirantha Peiris, accused of importing arms and ammunition under the Rifle Shooting Federation, which were later sold privately.
In response to these findings, the IOC called on NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam to convene an emergency Executive Board meeting to address the governance crisis. The IOC stressed that these ongoing issues were tarnishing the organization’s reputation and threatening Sri Lanka’s continued participation in the global Olympic movement.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the NOCSL Executive Board, in a meeting held on November 19, failed to act on the suspension directive, openly defying both the IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia. The board’s inaction has further strained relations with the global and regional Olympic bodies.
The scandal has also prompted Rifdy Fahmy, a member of the NOCSL Executive Committee, to resign, citing a need to protect his integrity and distance himself from the tarnished organization.
The case is under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Ministry of Sports and has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further action.
With mounting pressure from the international sports community, the NOCSL now faces the possibility of being banned by the IOC, a move that would isolate Sri Lanka from the Olympic movement and jeopardize its athletes’ participation in future global events.
The latest events come amid a chequered history of corruption and political interference in Sri Lanka’s sporting scene.
In December last year, the Sri Lankan government appointed two military figures accused of committing war crimes – including a general who is banned from entering the United States – in charge of the country’s sports institutions. Shavendra Silva was made chairman of the National Sports Selection Committee, whilst Jagath Jayasuriya was made one of 15 members of Sri Lanka’s National Sports Council.
In November 2023, Sri Lanka was dropped as the host for the Under-19 men's Cricket World Cup, after the country was suspended due to political interference in the sport.
Earlier the same year, FIFA suspended Sri Lanka following "undue interference by a third party" during an election conducted by the federation. The ban was eventually lifted in August, though FIFA said it would continue to monitor events within Sri Lankan football closely.
In May 2023, World Rugby also suspended Sri Lanka due to “political interference”.