• Lotus Tower chair vows to clean up NOC mess 

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) incumbent vice president Shirantha Peries, who officially declared his candidacy for its upcoming election of office bearers on Tuesday (31 March), vowed in no uncertain terms that he was under no investigation by any state institution.

He made this firm guarantee addressing the media at the sprawling Lotus Tower, in response to a question directed at him in which he is alleged to have been engaged in a scandal whereby weapons and ammunition had been imported via under-voicing during his tenure at the Shooting Sports Federation.

“This allegation has always sprung up whenever there was an election at the National Shooting Federation,” he stated.

“That was because I was the first civilian head of that particular federation. Before I took over in 2015, there was an Admiral, a Colonel and there were navy personnel who were the officials of this federation. During that time, whatever they’ve done I cannot be held accountable for it or even take responsibility. That is because I was never a signatory to any of those incidents.”

Peries, who is the current honourary chair of the management in charge of one of Colombo’s most scenic and iconic structures, asserted that since taking over helm at the shooting federation no such allegations had been made against him and challenged his detractors to bring forth any charges in that regard.

“Who is under investigation,” he asked, to a poser from The Daily Morning Sports. “As far as I know of, definitely, I am not under any investigation,” he affirmed, when reminded of the IOC and OCA guidelines which bars any officials under investigations from contesting elections to the domestic parent body of the Olympic movement.

The businessperson cum sports administrator acknowledged the Olympic House had been a den of conspiracies and with people heading in different directions with divisive policies.

He said it is no surprise when someone comes to clean up the mess spurious charges invariably tend to take centre stage against such persons.

However, he emphasised that he had decided to contest the NOCSL presidency, with a clear vision to strengthen governance, unify federations and elevate Lanka’s sporting performance on the world stage.

Asked whether he was receiving undue patronage from the current Sports Minister, in view of his close links with the incumbent NPP Government, Peries – the owner of the Mega Pharma Group nonchalantly straight batted the question.

“The Minister will do his work and I will do what will hopefully be entrusted to me at the Olympic House come 25 April. I have never gone after him (Minister), nor has he ever come after me. I hope that answers your question.”

The NOCSL vice president was pragmatic, looking ahead to the forthcoming AGM of the National Olympic Committee.

He pointed out that it is any individual’s right to contest an election, when the media mentioned the likes of Deva Henry, Jaswar Umar and Asanga Seneviratne being probable contenders for the NOCSL presidency at its election later this month.

But he refused to declare his team yet, insisting that though he was able to face up to brickbats mainly some members of his team may not be made of similar stern stuff, but promised to the press to reveal the same before the nominations close on 11 April.

Peries also revealed that the current constitution of the NOCSL allows misappropriation and misuse of its funds or power, and stressed that if he is elected to its top post, he will amend it forthwith, whereby watertight provisions would be introduced with more powers being vested with the General Assembly.