- Trixie’s petitions thrown out
- Vajira fancied for presidency over Desika
The election of officebearers for the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) for the 2026–’28 term, which has been stalled since May last year, is set to get underway at the Sports Ministry premises at 11 a.m. on 22 January, the four-member Election Committee formed to oversee it has officially announced.
According to sources from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the Election Committee formed to supervise the federation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the next fortnight has decided on the said date in order to restore the country’s netball administration.
At the upcoming election, Vajira Nethicumara from the Kalutara District Netball Association (KDNA) is expected to vie for the presidency of the game’s domestic governing body, alongside Desika Vitharana of the State Service Netball Association (SSNA).
Netball analysts are of the view that Nethicumara is a shoo-in for the presidency this time by virtue of support extended to her by a majority of district associations over her rival Vitharana.
Another feature of the election is the daughter of Nethicumara, Rukshi Sarah Nethicumara from the Kandy District Netball Association, also contesting for the coveted portfolio of the netball administration.
However, it is learnt that the daughter is unlikely to contest against her mother, and that she will opt out of the race at the 11th hour, allowing her mother to battle Vitharana for the top post.
The list of nominations released for the election also sees Shiromi Kuruppu of the Ratnapura District Netball Association (RDNA) contesting against Damayanthi Jayathilaka of the Gampaha District Netball Association (GDNA) for the post of secretary.
The Election Committee of the NFSL is headed by retired High Court Judge Irangani Perera. The other members of the committee are former Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development J.M. Thilakaratne Banda, former Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Sports D. Anuradha L. Illeperuma, and former Additional Secretary – Development at the Ministry of Sports M.P.N.M. Wickramasinghe.
Meanwhile, a petition filed by former President of the NFSL Trixie Nanayakkara before the Appeal Advisory Committee of the Sports Ministry, challenging the dismissal of her nomination for the presidency by the Election Committee, has been thrown out.
It is also understood that Nanayakkara had also challenged the legitimacy of Nethicumara’s candidacy in view of certain allegations directed at her in the past, while submitting a few past press clippings to substantiate her charges.
However, the protests made by Nanayakkara against Nethicumara had been rejected by the Appeal Advisory Committee.
The committee had emphasised that charges contained in newspaper articles were insufficient proof to warrant an investigation against any nominee and had advised Nanayakkara to submit evidence by way of documents, which she had failed to do.
The NFSL was disbanded by former Sports Minister Harin Fernando in late May 2024 over its perceived failure to hold its election before the annual cutoff date of 31 May 2024.
Following its dissolution, the netball administration was handed over to then Director General of Sports Dr. Shemal Fernando, who helmed it as the Competent Authority till his retirement in July 2025.
Upon Fernando’s retirement, incumbent Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage temporarily suspended the registration of the NFSL to amend its Constitution in keeping with the provisions of Sports Law No.25 of 1973 and to expedite its election.
The Minister subsequently transferred the governance of the NFSL to Acting Director General of Sports V. Premachanthiran, who was succeeded by S. Achchudan as the new Director General of Sports earlier this month.