• 31 May deadline for AGMs looms

A few sporting institutions who have been planning to conclude their annual election of office bearers or Annual General Meetings (AGMs) before this Saturday (31), as per the country’s Sports Law, have been thrown into chaos, informed sources disclosed.

This situation has emerged thanks to the revamped Sports Law that was published via a Gazette Notification by the Sports Minister last week, which has mandated all sports institutions here to adhere to the regulations of the new Sports Law, when convening AGMs after last Wednesday (21).

But a few officials from national sports bodies that have to conduct their elections before 31 May, stated that if they were to stick to the revamped Sports Law in the new Gazette released by the minister, then those AGMs will need to be postponed by at least six months.

They emphasised that in such an infeasible background, they will be compelled to annul already accepted nominations for elections and to call for fresh elections from the outset, which will also incur more costs.

“This scenario will lead to complications and confusion reigning among most sports institutions,” an official from a known sports body said, refusing to be identified.

“Furthermore, the already accepted nominations will have to be declared null and void and this in itself will create more issues than resolving any. Also how about the cost factor, has anyone given any thought to it. The regulations in the new Sports Law are rather ambiguous to say the least and it will be beneficial for the sporting institutions, if the Sports Ministry could clarify this ambiguity quickly,” the official added.

The official also pointed out that before the minister had published his new Gazette Notification, he had conveyed to them officially the need to hold their respective elections which had already been announced.

However, he noted that they were at a loss to comprehend as to what had prompted him to change tack suddenly.

A few spots institutions such as the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA), Sri Lanka Judo Association (SLJA), Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) and the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVF), are scheduled to conclude their respective AGMs, before Saturday (31).

However, the bone of contention for these sports associations has been them having to hold such elections under the new regulations.

Another new clause included in the new Sports Law regulations which is to be tabled in Parliament ahead of ratification also requires all those submitting nominations for Executive Committees of sports associations to handover their Assets and Liabilities Declarations as well.

The old regulations have been overhauled by the minister titled ‘National Sports Associations Regulations No. 1 of 2025’ of the new Sports Law, that had been Gazetted by him last week.

As per the Provisions contained in the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, all associations that were unable to hold elections for this year have been offered a 90-day reprieve, to do so under the direct supervision of the Sports Ministry Director General. 

Sports Ministry sources however contend that the latest legislation will install a clean, transparent and accountable framework for national sports federations-long mired in mismanagement, corruption, nepotism, politicisation and lack of accountability.

They added that it will also signal a clear shift in this country’s approach to sports administration-targeting integrity, equity and the promotion of excellence across all layers of sport.     

Efforts made to contact Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage for his views on the matter proved unsuccessful.