The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has plunged into a governance dispute following the expiration of its Executive Committee’s (Ex-Co) four-year mandate on December 27, 2025.
Led by Football Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswer Umar, a majority of national sports federations have officially petitioned the International Olympic Committee (IOC), arguing that the local body is now “dysfunctional” and must fast-track fresh elections.
Key Points of the Dispute
- Term Expiry: Opposing federations claim the NOCSL Ex-Co’s legal term ended in late December, rendering their current authority void.
- The Forensic Audit: A 10-year audit (2014–2024) is currently underway. While incumbent President Suresh Subramaniam suggests this timeline is relevant to the delay, Umar argues the audit is not a legal impediment to holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
- Ultimatum for “Plan B”: Federations have signaled that if the IOC does not intervene or if the current leadership does not commit to a vote by March 31, 2026, they will pursue domestic legal action.
The Standpoint of the Member Federations
Jaswer Umar, acting as a spokesperson for the collective of federations, emphasized that the move to contact the IOC was a matter of official protocol.
“We first contacted the IOC on December 28 and followed up on January 2. We have spelled out the urgency of the AGM and the measures needed to expedite it,” Umar stated.
He further questioned the ethics of the current leadership remaining in power during an audit that covers a decade of operations—70% of which took place under the current administration’s watch. Umar confirmed that both the President of Sri Lanka and the Sports Minister have been briefed on the situation.
The Response from NOCSL Leadership
From the UAE, where he is recovering from surgery, NOCSL Chairman Suresh Subramaniam dismissed claims that the body is non-functional. He insisted that the Ex-Co remains in office with the “blessings” of the IOC and that a formal response from Switzerland is expected by mid-January.
“The IOC operates on a set timeframe for all 200-plus member nations,” Subramaniam noted. “Just because some people have begun to clamour for elections doesn’t mean the process changes. We expect clarity on the election timeline after the second week of this month.”