• OCA backs IOC’s call for prompt action

The pressure on National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Secretary General Maxwell de Silva to resign from his post forthwith has further increased following a letter sent via email to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Ethics Committee Chairman Debendranath Sarangi.

Sarangi in his letter to Subramaniam has supported the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision calling for the immediate suspension of de Silva based on conclusions and recommendations divulged in a report compiled by the NOC Ethics Committee on 4 September.

The OCA Ethics Committee Chairman has pointed out in his email that he has already conveyed his stance on the matter to the NOCSL and has emphasised that the onus was now on the latter to institute prompt action to resolve the issue.

Sarangi has insisted that the issue could only be solved by removing the long-standing NOC official from his portfolio. He has further maintained that failure to abide by the instructions of the world body – the IOC – would entail severe consequences for Sri Lanka.

Earlier the Lausanne-based IOC had emailed the NOCSL President on the need to remove his General Secretary from his post, based on revelations contained in a report filed by its Ethics Committee on alleged acts of corruption engaged in by de Silva.

The email was sent to Subramaniam by IOC NOC Relations Department Associate Director of Institutional and Governance Service Jerome Poivey.

The IOC official from Switzerland had urged the NOCSL to convene an urgent meeting of its Executive Board in order to implement measures against its Secretary General in accordance with its Constitution.

Poivey has also stated in no uncertain terms that the internal governance issues have irreparably damaged the image of the NOCSL and that it is time for the latter to act swiftly.

He has also warned that if the NOCSL were to disregard the IOC’s concerns against de Silva, it will run the risk of facing further consequences, which could even lead to a temporary suspension of its membership, resulting in Sri Lanka being unable to compete in global events.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that due to the threat facing Sri Lanka if the Secretary General is not removed soon, the NOCSL President has requested the Executive Board to implement the Ethics Committee’s recommendations against de Silva, who has been serving in his post since 2009.

The allegations against the NOCSL Secretary General stem from an investigation report, which had highlighted a confirmed Government audit that both the then President of the NOCSL Hemasiri Fernando and its incumbent Secretary General had claimed additional funds for travel and accommodation during the Rio Olympics. 

The investigation had been carried out by a three-member committee headed by Director General (DG) of Sports Dr. Shemal Fernando into numerous alleged malpractices which had been allegedly presided over by the NOCSL Secretary General dating back to the Olympic Games eight years ago.

The committee also consisted of retired DIG Jagath Fonseka and retired Deputy Auditor General N.R. Manel Dharmasiri. It had been formed by former Minister of Sports Harin Fernando, while its report had been submitted on 6 February this year.

The allegations directed against the NOCSL Secretary General are under probe by the Special Investigation Unit of (SIU) of the Ministry of Sports at present and they have also been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by the Attorney General’s Department for further action. 

Efforts made by The Sunday Morning Sports to contact the NOCSL Secretary General did not yield tangible results.