[caption id="attachment_201972" align="alignleft" width="454"]
NOCSL General Secretary Maxwell De Silva hospitalised after an attack by two unidentified assailants. Here is De Silva (on right) with current NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) General Secretary Maxwell De Silva had been assaulted at his residence in Mutwal, Colombo, by two unidentified assailants on Friday (6) morning.
The assailants had then driven away in De Silva’s own car before abandoning it several kilometres away on the road before taking off in a three-wheeler, The Sunday Morning Sports reliably learns.
“It was around 5.30 a.m. on Friday when two masked assailants entered his home and in the ensuing scuffle, the Secretary sustained injuries to his fingers which required surgery,” a reliable source from within the NOCSL told The Sunday Morning Sports yesterday (7) on the condition of anonymity.
Around 5.30 in the morning
Speaking further the said NOCSL official said, “Maxi, who lives with his wife and daughter in Mutwal, was getting ready to travel out of Colombo to attend a wedding early in the morning. Around 5.30 a.m., since the dogs were barking continuously, his wife had opened the doors to check as to why they were barking.
“At that time, two masked men pushed her aside and entered the house. Maxwell and family initially thought they were robbers and had asked them to take whatever they wished, but not to harm them.
Having fingers sliced open
“Then one assailant wielding a knife had informed Maxi that they were not happy pertaining to the ongoing events in one of the national sport associations and had said they had come to assault him.
“Maxi’s daughter, who was also present, had come to her father’s defence and, in the ensuing brawl, the Maxi had his fingers sliced open by one of the assailants’ knives,” said the above source.
Getting away in a trishaw
“The assailants then threatened Maxwell and his family and stated that they were driving away in their car and that they would be parking it somewhere along the way. The assailants had apparently parked the vehicle several kilometres away from their residence and then hopped in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk and made their getaway.”
It was further reported that Maxwell’s daughter, who was taken to hospital along with her father, has been discharged but the NOCSL Secretary continues to be warded at the National Hospital recovering from his surgery.
Ploy to avoid imminent arrest?
The law enforcement officers who have viewed CCTV footage are currently conducting investigations in their quest to have the assailants apprehended.
Whilst the reason for this assault is yet to be established, many posts and comments on social media state that the NOCSL Secretary General De Silva had created several enemies in various sports bodies over the years.
Some comments allege that he was involved in financial fraud where his imminent arrest had been pending under instructions of the Attorney General’s Department.
Subramaniam speaks
Meanwhile when NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam said, “It is very unfortunate as to what happened yesterday (Friday) early hours. After I was elected President in 2018 and re-elected 2022, I can assure that there was no corruption, malpractice, or favouritism (at NOCSL).
“The attackers have stated Maxwell has ‘done injustice to us’. Whatever decision made at the NOCSL, it had been taken in very transparent manner and in the best interest of athletes. Also, decisions made by the national sports selection committee also were to the best interest of athletes.”
False allegations
“Due to the current financial situation of the country, I had to make difficult decisions without any bias or prejudice. I hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“However, after the election at NOCSL, a few losers were making a lot of false allegations, regarding events prior to 2018, to implicate Maxi. None of those charges are authentic.”
‘I’m really tired now’
“They have resorted to using their political power as well. We cannot allow sports to suffer. As far as I am at the helm, I will try to achieve fair-play by all,” explained Subramaniam.
Several calls made to speak to the NOCSL Secretary in hospital proved futile yesterday. However when a WhatsApp message was sent to him last afternoon, De Silva responded saying, “I’m really tired now. Will call you.”
NOCSL General Secretary Maxwell De Silva hospitalised after an attack by two unidentified assailants. Here is De Silva (on right) with current NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) General Secretary Maxwell De Silva had been assaulted at his residence in Mutwal, Colombo, by two unidentified assailants on Friday (6) morning.
The assailants had then driven away in De Silva’s own car before abandoning it several kilometres away on the road before taking off in a three-wheeler, The Sunday Morning Sports reliably learns.
“It was around 5.30 a.m. on Friday when two masked assailants entered his home and in the ensuing scuffle, the Secretary sustained injuries to his fingers which required surgery,” a reliable source from within the NOCSL told The Sunday Morning Sports yesterday (7) on the condition of anonymity.
Around 5.30 in the morning
Speaking further the said NOCSL official said, “Maxi, who lives with his wife and daughter in Mutwal, was getting ready to travel out of Colombo to attend a wedding early in the morning. Around 5.30 a.m., since the dogs were barking continuously, his wife had opened the doors to check as to why they were barking.
“At that time, two masked men pushed her aside and entered the house. Maxwell and family initially thought they were robbers and had asked them to take whatever they wished, but not to harm them.
Having fingers sliced open
“Then one assailant wielding a knife had informed Maxi that they were not happy pertaining to the ongoing events in one of the national sport associations and had said they had come to assault him.
“Maxi’s daughter, who was also present, had come to her father’s defence and, in the ensuing brawl, the Maxi had his fingers sliced open by one of the assailants’ knives,” said the above source.
Getting away in a trishaw
“The assailants then threatened Maxwell and his family and stated that they were driving away in their car and that they would be parking it somewhere along the way. The assailants had apparently parked the vehicle several kilometres away from their residence and then hopped in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk and made their getaway.”
It was further reported that Maxwell’s daughter, who was taken to hospital along with her father, has been discharged but the NOCSL Secretary continues to be warded at the National Hospital recovering from his surgery.
Ploy to avoid imminent arrest?
The law enforcement officers who have viewed CCTV footage are currently conducting investigations in their quest to have the assailants apprehended.
Whilst the reason for this assault is yet to be established, many posts and comments on social media state that the NOCSL Secretary General De Silva had created several enemies in various sports bodies over the years.
Some comments allege that he was involved in financial fraud where his imminent arrest had been pending under instructions of the Attorney General’s Department.
Subramaniam speaks
Meanwhile when NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam said, “It is very unfortunate as to what happened yesterday (Friday) early hours. After I was elected President in 2018 and re-elected 2022, I can assure that there was no corruption, malpractice, or favouritism (at NOCSL).
“The attackers have stated Maxwell has ‘done injustice to us’. Whatever decision made at the NOCSL, it had been taken in very transparent manner and in the best interest of athletes. Also, decisions made by the national sports selection committee also were to the best interest of athletes.”
False allegations
“Due to the current financial situation of the country, I had to make difficult decisions without any bias or prejudice. I hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“However, after the election at NOCSL, a few losers were making a lot of false allegations, regarding events prior to 2018, to implicate Maxi. None of those charges are authentic.”
‘I’m really tired now’
“They have resorted to using their political power as well. We cannot allow sports to suffer. As far as I am at the helm, I will try to achieve fair-play by all,” explained Subramaniam.
Several calls made to speak to the NOCSL Secretary in hospital proved futile yesterday. However when a WhatsApp message was sent to him last afternoon, De Silva responded saying, “I’m really tired now. Will call you.”