The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have suspended funding to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), except for direct payments to athletes on Olympic scholarships. This decision comes amidst serious governance and ethical concerns within the NOCSL.
At the heart of the controversy is the Ethics Committee’s recommendation to suspend Secretary General Maxwell de Silva over allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour. Despite these recommendations, the NOCSL Executive Board (EB), where de Silva wields significant influence, has yet to take action, drawing stern warnings from the IOC and OCA.
Earlier, in a letter to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam, Jérôme Poivey, Associate Director of Institutional and Governance Services at the IOC, stressed the urgency of implementing the Ethics Committee’s recommendations to protect the integrity of the Olympic movement in Sri Lanka.
The suspension of funding is also linked to a government audit and an inquiry report uncovering financial misconduct during the 2016 Rio Olympics. The report revealed that both de Silva and former NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando claimed USD 10,000 for travel and accommodation despite receiving prior payments from the IOC. Additionally, the inquiry highlighted unauthorised actions, such as sending six individuals to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games without the required approval from the Ministry of Sports.
