FFSL President, Member Federations urge Minister’s intervention in NOCSL crisis

By Susil Premalal

Jaswar Umar, President – Football Federation of Sri Lanka

A majority of National Sports Federations affiliated with the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), led by Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar, have formally requested Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage to urgently intervene and restore normal administration at the NOCSL.

In a written appeal addressed to the Minister, the federations pointed out that the four-year term of the current NOCSL Executive Board officially ended on December 27, 2025, yet no steps have been taken to convene an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or conduct elections for a new administration. The letter alleges that the current office bearers are continuing in power unlawfully, in violation of the NOCSL Constitution.

The signatory federations have requested the Sports Minister to immediately convene a discussion involving NOCSL member associations and officials of the Ministry of Sports, with the objective of facilitating the election of a new Executive Board and preventing further disruption to the governance of sport in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the complainant parties have also submitted a formal written complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the ongoing administrative crisis at the NOCSL.

In their letter, the federations emphasized that under Article 16(4) of the NOCSL Constitution, office bearers are elected for a term not exceeding four years, which has now expired. They accused the current Executive Board of deliberately obstructing the democratic process by failing to convene a General Assembly, thereby denying member federations their constitutional right to elect new office bearers.

The letter further highlighted serious governance concerns, noting that six out of the twelve Executive Board positions are presently occupied in contravention of Article 16(6) of the Constitution. This, the federations warned, raises doubts about the legality and enforceability of decisions taken by the current administration.

The federations stressed that no individual or office bearer has the mandate to function or represent the NOCSL beyond December 27, 2025, and described the continued inaction as a gross dereliction of duty and a violation of democratic principles.

Drawing attention to the fact that the NOCSL is established under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, the federations acknowledged the autonomy of sports bodies but insisted that no institution is above the law. They urged the Ministry to act in good faith to ensure lawful, democratic, and legitimate governance of the NOCSL.

Warning of potential irreparable harm to Sri Lankan sport, the federations called on the Sports Minister to urgently convene a meeting involving all stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the country’s sporting structure.