• Will not sanction election involving ousted Secretary: OCA 

Hard on the heels of the suspension imposed on former Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Maxwell de Silva by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has followed suit.

OCA Ethics Committee Chairman Debendranath Sarangi, in a letter addressed to de Silva last Tuesday (14), has stated that the latter was being suspended from all OCA-related activities for a period of three-months.

According to Sarangi, the decision made during the OCA Executive Board meeting on the aforementioned date has outlined a series of critical measures intended at addressing widespread allegations against the now-fired NOC Secretary General.

The OCA Executive Board in its letter has emphasised that de Silva’s accreditation has been officially withdrawn, barring him from attending the forthcoming Harbin Asian Winter Games.

The OCA has opted to extend de Silva’s suspension from all OCA events and related activities until inquiries by Sri Lankan authorities are concluded.

Sarangi has directed the NOC Executive Board to review and consider its Ethics Committee’s earlier decision, which recommended de Silva’s suspension.

In the letter, he has also instructed the long-serving NOC Secretary General to step aside from all his activities in the body until the ongoing probe against him is completed.

In the most critical aspect of the letter, the OCA has informed the NOC Secretary General that it will neither recognise nor sanction any upcoming NOC election involving de Silva.

This is being viewed by analysts as a calculated move to block the hastily scheduled Annual General Meeting (AGM) planned for March 2025 and spearheaded by de Silva and his allies.

Their intention, as outlined in a letter to the NOC President and the OCA, includes overturning the Ethics Committee’s recommendation and electing a president of their choice. 

The OCA has also confirmed in the letter that it will proceed to work with the incumbent President of the NOC to ensure that Lankan athletes are prepared for future Asian Games and similar international competitions sans any disruptions.

Sarangi has concluded his letter stating that the OCA’s decisions regarding de Silva will be conveyed officially to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the NOC Executive Board shortly.

The stance taken by the OCA underscores its commitment to upholding integrity and transparency within its member nations.

It comes in the aftermath of mounting allegations of financial misconduct and a range of other irregularities against de Silva.

The outcome of the probe will most likely have far-reaching implications for Sri Lanka’s sports governance and its global standing.