Sports Ministry takes control of three national sports bodies

Colombo, June 2 (Daily Mirror) - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification temporarily suspending the registration of the national governing bodies for handball, carrom, and hockey in Sri Lanka.

Under the directive, the administration and control of the affected sports associations have been vested in the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, who has been appointed as the Competent Authority to oversee their affairs.

The decision was made under the powers granted to the Minister through Sections 32 and 33 of the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973, as amended, and has been formalized through Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2489/48. The suspended bodies are the Sri Lanka Handball Association, the Sri Lanka Carrom Federation, and the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation.

According to the gazette notification, the appointment of the Competent Authority and the transfer of administrative powers came into effect on May 19, 2026. The move is intended to ensure the uninterrupted management and operation of the three associations while key governance reforms are carried out.

The Sports Ministry stated that the intervention is aimed at facilitating the completion of ongoing constitutional amendments within the associations and ensuring that forthcoming elections for office-bearers are conducted in a transparent and accountable manner.

As Competent Authority, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will exercise full control over the administrative, operational, and financial affairs of the respective organizations during the interim period.

The temporary arrangement will remain in force until the associations convene their Annual General Meetings under the revised constitutions and successfully elect new office-bearers.