Football researcher and civil society activist R.A. Dhaniz Ali, representing ‘We Are Football,’ an independent football reform movement, submitted a complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) last Wednesday (15).
The complaint is linked to long-standing allegations of financial and administrative corruption within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), and Ali has named seven officials, both current and past, from the sport’s local controlling body.
Among them are two former Presidents (Manilal Fernando and Anura de Silva), incumbent President Jaswar Umar Lebbe, two current Vice Presidents (Ranjith Rodrigo and Manil Fernando), former Executive Committee member Zaharan Singhawansa, and FFSL staff member Asif Ansar.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning Sports, Ali stated that he had submitted his complaint along with official documentary evidence obtained from recognised Government sources and audit investigations.
He confirmed that the proof submitted by him also included audited reports issued by the Auditor General’s Department, findings of the five-member committee led by Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena appointed by the Ministry of Sports, audited financial reports from the Ministry of Sports, reports from the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Misconduct Related to Sports, and the official letter forwarded to the Ministry of Sports by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Ali, who played a prominent role during the ‘Aragalaya’ movement, stressed that the allegations were directed at several current and former officials of the Football House.
“These individuals have been implicated in alleged misconduct, financial irregularities, and mass-scale misuse of public and FIFA funds, according to evidence we managed to get hold of,” he said.
“These submissions collectively highlight what appears to be systematic patterns of corruption, financial mismanagement, and alarming governance failures within the scope of this country’s football administration since the tenure of former President Manilal Fernando,” he charged.
Ali reiterated that his movement’s complaint was based solely on documented evidence gathered from State authorities and not on hearsay.
He insisted that their aim was to ensure accountability, transparency, and justice within the nation’s football governance structure.
He also called on the CIABOC to conduct a fair, independent, and thorough probe into the matter raised by ‘We Are Football’ and consequently take appropriate legal action against any individual found guilty of wrongdoing.
“Football in Sri Lanka deserves integrity, reform, and an unblemished leadership that serves the sport, its players, and the long-suffering public, not personal or political interests,” he emphasised.
Ali further charged that the Umar-led FFSL had driven domestic football to the ground during the past two-year period and asked what tangible results could be achieved internationally by ignoring the development of local football.
Meanwhile, when contacted, FFSL President Umar rejected the charges directed against his administration and stated that his lawyers had already sent a Letter of Demand (LOD) to Ali, seeking damages worth Rs. 500 million.
Umar noted that the activities of his administration had been both aboveboard and transparent during the past two-year period and challenged his adversaries to substantiate their allegations against him.
He asserted that those who were envious of the unprecedented success story of the national team during the past year or so were striving to destabilise their work.