Ex-Sri Lanka NOC head Suresh Subramaniam no more

By Susil Premalal

Former president of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and president of the Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka (CGASL), Suresh Subramaniam, passed away on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. He was 66 years old.

Subramaniam had been receiving medical treatment overseas for a brief period due to an illness before returning to Sri Lanka, where he continued treatment at a private hospital until his passing away. He is survived by his wife and two children.

His remains lie at his residence, 18/185 Centre Road, Dabare Mawatha, Colombo 05, Narahenpita. The funeral service will be held at his residence on Friday at 2.00 pm followed by cremation at the General Cemetery, Kanatte (New Crematorium) at 3.30 pm.

An old boy of St. Lawrence’s College, Colombo and Royal College, Colombo, Subramaniam was a distinguished national and international tennis player before moving into sports administration. Throughout his administrative career, he held several key positions within the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, including serving as its president.

Subramaniam served as head of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka from 2018 until April 2026, completing an eight-year tenure during which he played a significant role in the development of Olympic sports administration in the country.

In accordance with the new provisions of Sri Lanka’s Sports Law, he did not seek re-election for the 2026–2029 term. In recognition of his services to sports administration, he was later appointed Honorary Life President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka and President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Sri Lanka.

During his years in office, Subramaniam was widely respected for his commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s Olympic movement and enhancing the country’s presence in international sport. His demise marks the end of an influential chapter in Sri Lankan sports administration and leaves a legacy within the nation›s sporting community.