Umar Jaswar returns as Football Sri Lanka President

Umar Jaswar was elected as the new Football Sri Lanka President for a four-year term, beating Dacshitha Sumathipala by a majority of 25 votes at the Foundation Institute. 

The election was conducted with the participation of officials from the sport’s world governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. 

Out of 65 votes that were cast, 45 were for Jaswar, while Sumathipala received 20 votes.  

Jaswar was part of a group that was supported by former FSL President Ranjith Rodrigo and former Senior Vice President Dr. Manil Fernando, that swept the elections defeating the faction led by Sumathipala. 

The trio were unanimous in what Sri Lanka’s immediate target should be. 

“Our primary target is to prepare our team for the World Cup Qualifiers next month against Yemen on October 12 (away leg) and 17 (home leg). We are also targeting the development of the game,” the trio said. 

“There were many allegations against us, that we stole money and that our administration was embroiled in corruption, but we believe that the leagues who have voted today, have expressed the truth. We will work with transparency moving forward,” they added. 

Sumathipala meanwhile, said, “While I accept this defeat, I am not intending to work with this administration, but we will watch how they perform.”

Four of the candidates, including Sumathiapala, were rejected by the FSL’s Elections Committee ahead of the vote, but following an appeal were allowed by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe to contest at the elections. 

The election committee comprised of Justice Dr. U. L. Abdul Majeed, who was the Chairman, along with Justice Bandula K. Atapattu and Major General (Retd.) Upali Gunasekera. 

New Elected Officers Bearers of FSL: President: Umar Jaswar (Sri Lanka Football Referees Association); Vice Presidents: Ranjith Rodrigo (Negambo League), Dr. Manil Fernando (Kalutara League), Dilshan Nagahawatte (Galle League), K. M. M. P. Karunathilake (Sri Lanka Navy League); Executive Committee  Members:  A. W. Abdul Gaffar (Mawanella League), Jagath de Silva (Nawalapitiya League), Saif Yusuf (Mercantile League), M. I. M. Abdul Manaff (Ampara League ), Indika Thenuwara (Matara League), M. C. M. Rizvi (Kinneya League); Female Member: Deepika Kumari (Biyagama League)