National Olympic Committee elections in December: Hemasiri Fernado

By Hishan Welmilla 

in Ashgabat 

The elections of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) will be held in December, according to its President Hemasiri Fernando.

Fernando who is in Ashgabat attending the 36th General Assembly stated this to the media present here to cover the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Gems 2017.

“We are ready for elections in December as per the Olympic charter. We got clear instructions from International Olympic Committee (IOC) and we will process the matter from next week and call for nominations soon,” he added.

It was earlier said that the elections of the NOCSL would be postponed as six of the national sports governing bodies had not completed their elections of new office bearers. As per the sports rule, NOCSL cannot hold its elections if any of the registered sports governing bodies which are recognised as Olympic sport have not completed election of office bearers. 

However, according to Fernando, they can hold NOCSL elections with the sports associations which have approved office bearers from the respective international associations with which they are affiliated. Therefore even if no elections are held by the sports associations under the sports law of Sri Lanka, NOCSL could hold its elections.  “I am expecting an official letter from IOC in this regard and no sooner it comes I am ready to hold the elections,” Fernando stressed.  

But the veteran sports administer who held the position of NOCSL President for 22 years will not run for the position again and wants suitable candidate to contest and win.

“I will not come up for election this time. I have already declared it. There are many parties which have requested me to take another term but I have decided to quit and the decision will not be revoked,” said Fernando.

Even though Fernando leaves office, he will be Honorary President of NOCSL and also hold the position of Vice President in the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and The Commonwealth Games Federation.

A few individuals are eyeing the top seat of the NOCSL and Fernando believes the sports federations will elect the best with the correct credentials.

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has vowed to iron out all the sports regulations introduced by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1975 and Sports Regulations No. 1793/3 and No. 1825/38 of 2013 which are directly in conflict with the Olympic Charter.

There are 10 new key regulations introduced in 2013 which contradict the Olympic Charter and these new regulations were not accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which was annoyed over the content which threatened the autonomy of NOCSL and all the national sports federations and associations of Sri Lanka. As these conditions prevailed and also due to the NOCSL elections pending since 2013, IOC intervened and summoned NOCSL and the Ministry of Sports Sri Lanka to Lausanne at which meeting a road map was agreed upon during the regime of former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Following warnings from the International Olympic Committee few years ago, the NOCSL stood up for changes to the sports law and regulations.