- New EC formed for AGM
The five-member Election Committee (EC) set up to supervise the election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) for the 2026-28 term, has decided to accept nominations only till today (12), a source from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said.
Accordingly, the EC has already notified its decision to all registered affiliated sports associations to the SLA and they are due to officially announce the election date shortly.
In August last year the Sports Ministry had deferred the election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Athletics sans scheduling a date, following protests and allegations made over the composition of the EC.
However, challenges made regarding the legitimacy of nominations submitted by certain candidates to key portfolios of the election, also forced the ministry concerned to postpone it indefinitely having nullified the questionable nominations.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara in July last year temporarily suspended the registration of the SLA as per the provisions of Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 through an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, to amend its Constitution with a view to expediting its Election.
The minister afterwards transferred the governance of the game’s domestic controlling body to the Acting Director General (DG) of Sports of the Department of Sports Development attached to his ministry, V. Premachanthiran.
The Acting DG was succeeded by S. Achhudan as the new DG of Sports early this month. To ensure a smooth election, a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the SLA has also been convened and a newly formed EC has been tasked with receiving the nominations in keeping with the updated sports regulations.
The new five-member Election Committee, which is slated to oversee the SLA election, is headed by retired Court of Appeal Justice Lalith U. Jayasuriya.
Its other members are retired High Court Judge D.A. Ruwan Pathirana, Additional Secretary to the Sports Ministry Sumith Shantha, retired Additional Secretary Buddhika Weragoda, and retired Deputy Director (Planning) of the Sports Ministry Deepal Liyanarachchi.
The previous Election Committee to oversee the election of SLA was headed by retired High Court Judge Wimal Nambuwasam.
Meanwhile, four candidates have reportedly thus far submitted nominations to contest the top post of the athletics governing body.
They are former athlete, coach, and head of the body Sunil Gunawardana of the Trackmaster Sports Club, ex-DIG Upali Kumarasiri of the Srilak Athletics Club, Indika Prasanna of the Mercantile Athletics Association, and Olcott Schools Collective President Bimal Wijesinghe, respectively.
It is also understood that former ace sprinter Shehan Ambepitiya and veteran athletics coach Madhawa Senarath are due to vie for the post of Secretary.
In the meantime, out of 39 registered affiliated associations, three from the districts of Mullaitiv, Kilinochchi, and Ampara have been barred from voting at its yet-to-be-confirmed election, over their collective failure to field athletes at the National Championship and at the Junior National Championships, respectively.
Following new regulations introduced by the Sports Minister last May, representations at the said meets have been made compulsory to be eligible to vote at AGMs of National Sports Federations.
A Sports Ministry source confirmed that the new regulations had been incorporated into the Sports Law, to prevent officials from defunct clubs or sports associations from vying for key posts at annual elections.
Attempts to contact the Sports Minister and Sports Min. Secretary were unsuccessful.