Rifdy Fahmy’s Mission to Rebuild Trust in Sri Lanka’s NOC From Champion Swimmer to Olympic Reformer

By Allaam Ousman 

In the corridors of Royal College in the late 1980s, a young Rifdy Fahmy was making waves — literally. A national champion and backstroke record holder, Fahmy captained Sri Lanka’s swimming team while still in school and led his alma mater’s swimming, water polo, and diving teams. Fast-forward three decades, and he finds himself at the helm of one of the country’s most turbulent sporting bodies: the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL).
Appointed Secretary General in May 2025 amid unprecedented institutional upheaval, Fahmy has taken on the task of steering the NOCSL toward credibility, transparency, and reform.

“When I was approached, I understood the gravity of the moment,” Fahmy says. “With funding halted and institutional credibility at stake, I felt a responsibility to step up — not as a placeholder, but as a reformist.”

Educated at Royal College, Colombo 7, Fahmy’s early career was defined by sporting excellence and leadership. He represented Sri Lanka in swimming from 1985 to 1990, captaining the national team in his final school years. He was Head Prefect of Royal College in 1990 and twice awarded the Most Outstanding Sportsman title.

He began his administrative journey in 1994 with the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), eventually becoming its General Secretary in 2002. “That was also the period the organisation changed its name from NAASU to SLASU under the presidency of Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda,” he recalls.

Fahmy also served on the NOC Executive Committee from 2002 to 2004 and continues to be part of the Royal College Games Council, the school’s central sports policymaking body. Outside of sport, he serves as Country Head and Director of a leading U.S.-based multinational company.

Fahmy initially rejoined the NOCSL Executive Board in January 2023 but resigned in November 2024, citing serious ethical concerns. “I vehemently opposed what was happening, but it fell on deaf ears,” he reflects.

By early 2025, the NOCSL was in deep crisis: IOC (International Olympic Committee) and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) funding had been suspended, the organisation’s local bank accounts were frozen, and an independent inquiry had recommended the suspension of the former Secretary General. The institutional paralysis left Sri Lankan athletes in limbo.

In March, Fahmy was invited back by President Suresh Subramaniam and the new Executive Board (EB). “Meaningful change could only happen from within,” he says. “I wanted to help restore integrity, operational normalcy, and ensure our federations and athletes received the support they needed to bring glory to Sri Lanka.”

Fahmy stepped into office with a clear agenda: implement reforms, restore credibility, and navigate the complex financial and governance challenges crippling the NOCSL.

“The most pressing issues were financial paralysis due to frozen accounts, the suspension of international funding, and a breakdown in stakeholder confidence,” he says. But in just three months, the NOCSL managed to reactivate operations, launch a forensic audit, and form independent subcommittees for finance, athlete development, education, legal affairs, and high performance.

“This was first proposed in 2023 by the President and a few EB members, but was blocked by some of the then EB. Now, with full support from the revamped EB, the audit is underway,” Fahmy says.

To build further transparency, NOCSL outsourced its finance and accounting to a reputed chartered accountancy firm and introduced new ethical reporting channels. “These aren’t cosmetic changes — they’re systemic reforms meant to restore integrity and build institutional resilience,” he emphasises.

The financial situation was dire at the start. “Thanks to the President and a few EB members who contributed from their own pockets, we were able to pay staff and stay operational,” Fahmy explains. “Volunteerism and lean deployment helped us survive that storm.”

The freeze on NOCSL’s bank accounts, Fahmy adds, was imposed “without proper protocols or due process,” and was likely an attempt by vested interests to derail the audit. With corrective measures in place, the IOC and OCA have now lifted the funding suspension and resumed support.

Transparency has become a cornerstone of the new NOCSL. “Public trust is earned through action,” Fahmy stresses. “We now publish decisions, financial updates, and activity trackers. The open digital registration for IOC scholarships for the 2028 Olympics attracted nearly 50 applications — something we’ve never seen before.”

Fahmy credits the collaborative leadership of President Subramaniam and the new Executive Board for enabling reforms. “While we may differ in approach at times, the President and EB are fully supportive of the direction we’re taking. They are open to difficult conversations and always provide guidance when needed.”

To insulate the organisation from political and personal interference, the NOCSL has also introduced merit-based appointments with term limits and performance reviews for its new subcommittees.

With IOC funding restored and reforms embedded, Fahmy’s focus is now on delivering results. “We’ve re-established athlete development committees, resumed training programmes, and are already preparing for seven major international games in the next 18 months.”

New initiatives include Olympic Solidarity programmes, the revival of the Elite Athlete Pathway, and international training opportunities for coaches and athletes in disciplines with medal potential.

“My vision is for a professionally run, athlete-first NOC — credible internationally and respected regionally,” Fahmy says. “We want to be a model of governance and performance in South Asia.”Among the benchmarks he uses to measure success: restored IOC/OCA partnerships, audit completion, increased athlete participation and medals, fewer governance complaints, and improved stakeholder satisfaction.

But he’s clear-eyed about what’s needed: “Success isn’t solitary. We need support from all stakeholders. We make an earnest appeal to all — come join us and help NOCSL succeed.”

In closing, Fahmy speaks from the heart: “To our athletes: you are our pride and our purpose. We are here to serve you. To federations: work with us, challenge us, and uphold the same standards you expect from us. To the public: thank you for your patience. We’re rebuilding this institution brick by brick. Your support is our strength. Let’s build something worthy of our flag.”