- Those with tainted public images should quit: NOC Prez
National Olympic Committee (NOC) President Suresh Subramanium says that those with tarnished public images serving in its Executive Board should step down forthwith, if Sri Lanka is to obtain frozen funds from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) respectively.
He said that the two world bodies have conveyed to him that his association is currently traversing on the right path and that there could be a possibility of lifting the freezing of funds.
On 17 February this year the OCA froze NOC funds until such time, the local body removed all officials besmirched by scandal and damning allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption.
Speaking to The Daily Morning Sports, the NOC President stated that he has been informed by the IOC and the OCA, that they will favourably consider releasing the local body’s suspended funds, only when all its officials with tainted public images are expelled for once and for all.
Subramanium was alluding to the twin resignations of its Executive Board members namely Suranjith Premadasa and Gamini Jayasinghe respectively, from their posts of Vice President and Treasurer, a fortnight ago.
It is believed that Premadasa, the President of the Equestrian Association and Jayasinghe with links to sports such as hockey, baseball, winter sports, teqball and dancesport, had quit their posts citing health and personal reasons respectively.
As per multiple press reports published in the recent past, the OCA and the IOC had imposed the suspension of funds to the NOC last December, attributed to severe governance failures, especially those linked to its ex-Secretary General Maxwell de Silva.
Asked whether there are any more officials left in the NOC Executive Board, whom the two world governing bodies have demanded their resignations as well, the NOC head observed that there were a few left yet.
He said till they too step down of their own volition, the NOC funds will continue to remain frozen as per the official communique to him from the IOC and the OCA.
According to him, both have clearly informed that those already implicated in corruption will have no alternative but to throw in the towel, as the two global sports bodies are not willing to entertain those obstructing reforms as per the IOC charter.
Subramanium, who has valiantly fought to bring transparency and accountability to the NOC under his watch, is of the view that till its Augean Stables are cleaned up for good, Sri Lanka will continue to be in the bad books of the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
He also warned that the longer it takes to wipe the NOC’s slate clean, the country’s participation at future marquee sporting events such as the South Asian Games (SAG) and the Commonwealth Games will be in jeopardy, for want of funds.
He added that in the aftermath of the resignations of both Premadasa and Jayasinghe, the NOC Executive Board at its meeting held on 5 March, has filled the vacant posts with Deva Henry (Vice President) and Shirantha Peiris (Treasurer) respectively, serving in acting capacities.
He mentioned that these appointments to the NOC Executive Board will be in effect till the next election of office bearers which is not due till late this year.
Meanwhile, Subramanium has also initiated a forensic audit to scrutinise key financial areas of his association, with allegations of funds meant for development of athletes being mismanaged or used for personal benefit in the recent past.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, in January, suspended former NOC Secretary General de Silva, following the continued failure to implement its Ethics Committee’s recommendation, to suspend the latter over grave allegations of financial misconduct.
Both the IOC and the OCA had repeatedly demanded the head of the NOC’s controversial Secretary General and for the NOC to act on its Ethics Committee’s recommendations or face a global sporting ban.
Since his ouster more than two months ago, Maxwell de Silva has petitioned the Court of Appeal challenging the minister’s authority to resort to his actions and the Court has instructed the respondents to file objections.
De Silva has named the Sports Minister, Sports Ministry Secretary Aruna Bandara, Executive Board of the NOC, Ethics Committee of the NOC and Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr. as respondents in his petition.