‘Common candidate’ at NOC election has high hopes for reform

By Susil Premalal

Jaswar Umar who claims he is the ‘common candidate’ of Saturday’s election of office-bearers to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, emphasised that amending the outdated Constitution in line with the Olympic Charter will be his top priority if elected.
The Football Federation of Sri Lanka president Umar claims he is backed by a majority of NOC affiliated national associations. This marks the first time in Sri Lanka’s football history that an FFSL president is contesting for the presidency of the NOC.
The election is scheduled to be held tomorrow at 4:00 PM at Olympic House Colombo with five candidates in the race, although sources indicate that some may withdraw.
An old boy of Royal College, Umar is also a Managing Director of a leading business enterprise in Sri Lanka and his policy manifesto was unveiled on April 21 in Colombo, with the participation of a large number of representatives from affiliated national associations.
Umar pointed out that although 32 affiliated national associations exist under the NOCSL, some remain inactive. He stressed that, if elected, he would ensure equal support for all associations and work towards elevating every sport to the international level.
He also highlighted the lack of a unified national identity in sports representation, noting that unlike countries such as Australia—where teams maintain consistent uniforms, colours and emblems—Sri Lanka lacks such uniformity. He stated that both the Sports Ministry and the NOCSL must take the lead in addressing these inconsistencies.
Looking ahead, Umar revealed plans to introduce Olympic Clubs at school level, involving talented young athletes, and to build a structured pathway from schools to clubs, districts and national level aimed at achieving Olympic success.
He further stressed that as the head of a globally recognised sport in Sri Lanka, he intends to leverage international connections to secure financial and technical support for the country’s sports sector.
“My campaign is driven by a commitment to integrity, transparency and athlete-centered development with the goal of restoring trust in sports administration and strengthening national federations while enhancing Sri Lanka’s reputation both locally and internationally”, said Umar.
It has been acknowledged that issues related to governance, constitutional compliance and financial discipline have weakened confidence in sports administration in recent years. 
A reform movement launched in 2023 aims to protect the integrity, reputation and financial resources of the NOCSL.
Key priorities outlined include restoring good governance and transparency, strengthening constitutional compliance and revising the constitution in accordance with Olympic Charter requirements. 
Plans also include directing financial resources more effectively toward athlete development and national federations, supported by stricter financial controls and improved monitoring systems.
The Proposal further emphasised regular dialogue with national federations through structured consultations, along with initiatives for capacity building and infrastructure development, including internship programmes and human resource support.
The initiative, he said, marks the beginning of a new sporting culture built on discipline, professionalism, fairness and excellence, with a strong focus on athletes and institutional credibility.