Minister of Sports suspends four sports bodies for election purposes

Minister of Sports Harin Fernando has in a gazette notification suspended four sports federations for a limited purpose to enable them to hold elections and to elect office-bearers.

The suspended sports bodies are: Sri Lanka Cycling Federation, Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, Sri Lanka Automobile Federation and Sri Lanka Netball Federation with effect from 29 May.

The Gazette further announced the appointment of the Director General of the Department of Sports Development, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, as the competent authority only for the limited purpose of holding the elections of office bearers for the said national sports governing bodies. 

“The measure had been taken as a temporary mechanism to proceed with administrative and other required activities of the said National Association/ Federation of Sports and to call and conduct relevant elections as well as to perform the duties appropriately until then,” the Gazette stated. 

In a post on ‘X’ the Sports Minister stated, “The Government maintains that it will not appoint any interim committees for any sport federation”.