• Vows to write to IOC on the need for a new face 

Officials from some 27 sports associations affiliated to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) on Tuesday (22), launching a strong diatribe at its Chair Suresh Subramanium at a news briefing, over his alleged dictatorial governance style, vowed that they will be submitting an official letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortly.

They said the only alternative left for them was to draw the attention of the Lausanne-based global controlling body, on the necessity to oust the controversial incumbent head of the NOC, alleging that his autocratic conduct has imperiled the country’s Olympic sports.

They observed that failing which they would mull seriously to dissolve the body among themselves, as they have majority votes in the Executive Board of the NOC.

The disgruntled officials asserted that this could pave the way for the installation of a caretaker committee to oversee its work till such time an Annual General Meeting (AGM), could be held.

Among those present were Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) Head Jaswer Umar, Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) Head Chandana Liyanage, Modern Pentathlon Federation of Sri Lanka (MPFSL) President Nishantha Piyasena, and Gymnastics Association President Premanath C. Dolewatta.

They collectively voiced their vehement opposition to the current governance style of the NOC President, whom they said had been in office since 2017 and vowed that Subramanium’s alleged dictatorial conduct has at last reached a boiling point.

They emphasised that the current NOC Head’s ‘law unto oneself’ conduct, had prompted them to convene a press conference to apprise the public of the danger posed to Olympic sports here, in the event of allowing him to remain in power for a further four-year period.

The officials stressed that the time has come for the members from the majority associations to reach consensus on dissolving the Executive Committee and paving the way for a caretaker body, to run its affairs till such time a fresh Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held.

Gymnastics Association Head, Attorney-at-Law Premanath C. Dolewatta, identified that administrative failings for years had tarnished the image of the NOC and called for an independent body to probe allegations of corruption and fraud directed at any NOC member.

FFSL Head Jaswer Umar said that the NOC President, has blatantly violated the constitution of the NOC and as such he was currently unsuitable to head the sporting institution.

He added that with IOC and Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) having suspended funds to the local institution, it was the responsibility of its current head to resign and pave the way for a fresh election or a caretaker committee, to supervise activities till such time an elected body is installed.  

Gymnastics Association Deputy President Kapila Jeewantha said that a state-owned bank has frozen the official account of the NOC after 10 years, over the violation of the latter’s constitution, while dealing with the bank concerned.

He added that this situation had arrived after Subramanium had allowed an outsider to sign cheques on behalf of the NOC, which he termed as a flagrant violation of the constitution.

When contacted, NOC President Suresh Subramanium, challenged his detractors if possible, to contact the IOC and oust him from his post.

He said the world governing body only deals with the head of the local body and not with the “corrupt officials of the affiliated federations”, as he put it, insisting that the IOC was well aware who the crooks were.

He also challenged them to lodge any CID complaint if possible against him, if he has committed any wrongdoing of a large scale, linked to NOC funds.

He identified six officials in the faction led by suspended Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, who were attempting to sling mud at him to divert attention of the press away from the case, concerning its former Secretary, which is due to be heard court on 30 April.

The NOC Head added that almost all officials who had convened the press briefing have various allegations of improprieties committed by them, while serving at the Olympic House one time or another, as highlighted by the Auditor General’s report and affirmed that those in glass houses should not throw stones at others.