Sri Lanka Olympic hopefuls crushed by corruption, political interference

Asoka Jayarathna (right) with the president of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan

As the sport of Muay Thai prepares to make its Olympic debut, Sri Lanka’s martial arts exponents are being forced to watch from the sidelines as the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) has suspended the Sri Lanka Muaythai Federation (SLMTF), citing political interference, corruption and governance violations.

The suspension effectively prohibits Sri Lankan athletes from participating in future international events, including the Olympic qualifiers.

Muay Thai, the ancient martial art of Thailand, was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2021. With its inclusion as a demonstration sport at Paris 2024 and strong prospects for full medal status in Los Angeles 2028, the sport is on the cusp of Olympic glory.

But Sri Lanka, once a promising contender, now finds itself suspended and sidelined.

At the center of the crisis is Ashoka Jayarathne, the former president of Sri Lanka Muaythai Federation (SLMTF) and who served as its representative to IFMA. Jayarathne has accused high-ranking officials—including naval officers, police authorities and former sports ministers—of orchestrating a campaign to remove him through intimidation, defamation and fabricated documents.

His testimony, corroborated by IFMA’s own investigations, details threats to his life, illegal detentions and systemic harassment. Despite these revelations, Sri Lanka’s sports authorities have failed to take corrective action. IFMA continues to recognize Jayarathne as the legitimate representative, but the national body remains suspended.

Documents reveal that the current SLMTF leadership—President Dilan Peiris and Vice President Lal Weerasinghe—were appointed under questionable circumstances linked to the previous government. Both men have close ties to former Deputy Sports Minister Rohana Dissanayake and are accused of unlawfully seizing control of the federation.

IFMA has stated unequivocally that it will only recognize the federation under Jayarathne’s presidency. The current officials have failed to meet the criteria outlined in Sri Lanka’s Sports Act, and critics argue they maintain a monopoly over Muay Thai in the country.

IFMA has stated unequivocally that it will only recognize the federation under Jayarathne’s presidency. The current officials have failed to meet the criteria outlined in Sri Lanka’s Sports Act, and critics argue they maintain a monopoly over Muay Thai in the country

The suspension has had devastating consequences for young athletes. Sri Lanka did not participate in the 2024 IFMA Senior World Championships in Greece, denying fighters a vital international opportunity. With the 2025 Youth World Championships approaching, concerns are mounting that selections will again favour a handful of loyalists, repeating past injustices.

In a July 2024 email, IFMA Secretary General Stephan Fox proposed allowing Sri Lankan gyms to register under a neutral flag—with Jayarathne as head of delegation. This extraordinary measure was taken to shield youth athletes from the fallout of political interference.

Sri Lankan athletes now cannot participate in Olympic qualifiers, receive international funding, or benefit from global rankings making the drama not just a missed medal but also a missed moment of national pride.

It is being alleged that registered clubs were excluded from the 2025 Annual General Meeting, reinforcing the lack of transparency and past elections were manipulated using fake clubs and forged documents while legitimate stakeholders were denied participation.