News

Audit Report Uncovers Financial Mismanagement and Procedural Breaches at Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)

Published

8 months ago

September 28, 2024

Editor

An audit report conducted by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, dated 20th July 2023, has revealed widespread financial mismanagement within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). The audit was initiated following numerous complaints received by the Minister of Sports, Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, and conducted by a committee comprising B.M.S.S. Basnayake, Chief Internal Auditor of the Sports Development Department (Chairperson), W.P.D.M.J. Perera, Chief Accountant of the Ministry, and B.H. Kalasuriya, Chief Internal Auditor of the Ministry.

The audit focused on five major inquiries, each uncovering serious breaches of financial protocol:

1. Purchase of Zolo Footballs

The FFSL advanced a payment of LKR 12.775 million to Ceylon Professional Sports Management for the purchase of Zolo footballs, violating government tender procedures. The full payment was made without securing a financial guarantee from the vendor, and to date of inquiry, the footballs have not been received.

Committee Recommendations:
The Finance Manager is instructed to demand either the footballs or a refund immediately. Furthermore, since the President’s office was sealed, the committee could not verify whether Executive Committee approval was granted for the payment. Once the new Executive Committee is in place, an inquiry must be made, and if approval was not granted, a complaint should be lodged with the CID.

Editor’s Comment:
How did the Finance Manager approve such a large payment without the Executive Committee’s approval, and why has no action been taken against the former President, who was reappointed despite these allegations?

2. Ceylon Provincial League 2022 Food Bills

Over LKR 13.9 million was spent on food for the Ceylon Provincial League teams, but no valid documents were attached to justify these expenses. Bills were presented on A4-sized paper, raising questions about their authenticity.

Committee Recommendations:
Suppliers have been contacted via registered post, but due to the lack of detailed billing, the committee recommends lodging a CID complaint for further investigation.

3. USD 700,000 Withdrawal from FFSL Accounts

Under the direction of the FFSL President and Treasurer, USD 700,000 was transferred from the FFSL’s foreign currency account to a local currency account without Executive Committee approval or following proper procedures.

Committee Recommendations:
A proper mechanism for handling currency transfers must be implemented to prevent such unauthorized transactions in the future.

4. USD 30,000 Media Rights Payment

The FFSL failed to receive a USD 30,000 payment for the media rights of the Mahinda Rajapakse Trophy. Additionally, Public Service Media confirmed that they did not receive USD 10,000 for broadcasting a SAFF Sri Lanka match.

Committee Recommendations:

Ensure that Mr. Asif Ansar, who handled the transaction, provides the necessary receipt for the USD 10,000 payment or returns the money to FFSL.
Recover the USD 30,000 media rights payment from Public Service Media.
If Mr. Ansar fails to comply, lodge a complaint with the CID.

5. Zolo Sponsorship for Champions League

It was noted that Zolo sponsored the Champions League, but no documentation was found to verify this partnership.

Committee Recommendations:
Without any records, the committee could not investigate further. They recommend future deals be documented properly.

Lack of Action from Authorities

Despite these findings being submitted to the Ministry of Sports and Youth on 20th July 2023, no actions have been taken to address these serious allegations. To date, no complaints have been lodged with the CID or other relevant authorities.

The full audit report is attached for readers and relevant authorities to review.

Attachment: Full Audit Report on FFSL Mismanagement (Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, 20th July 2023)

News

Strengthening Ties Through Sport: China Donates Five Dragon Boats to Sri Lanka

Published

12 hours ago

June 1, 2025

Editor

The People’s Republic of China has donated five dragon boats worth LKR 5 million to Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in promoting water sports across the island.

The donation was made during the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Dragon Boat Championship, organized by NACKSL – the National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking Sri Lanka, held on May 31 at the Diyawanna Rowing Center. The championship saw the participation of 25 teams from various regions of the country.

The event was graced by:

Minister of Youth and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamagedara
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong

Trophies and certificates were awarded to the winning athletes, and the official handover of the dragon boats was completed at the same event.

A Symbol of Friendship and Cultural Exchange

Minister Gamagedara emphasized that the China-Sri Lanka Dragon Boat Championship, and the donation of dragon boats, symbolize the strong cultural, sporting, and diplomatic ties between the two nations. He extended his gratitude to the Chinese Embassy and stated that this generous gift would be instrumental in expanding and developing water sports across Sri Lanka.

“From North to South and East to West, we are committed to promoting water sports across the country,” said the Minister.

He further noted that this donation would help create pathways for Sri Lankan youth in canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boat racing, while also boosting sports tourism.

Celebrating Unity and National Inclusion

Special appreciation was extended to student participants from schools in Jaffna, highlighting the championship’s role in fostering national unity and showcasing the talent and commitment of young athletes from all regions.

The Deputy Minister also expressed hope that more youth with exceptional talent in water sports would be provided with sports scholarships in the future.

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Cricket

Kusal Mendis Falls Short in High-Stakes IPL Eliminator Clash

Published

1 day ago

May 31, 2025

Editor

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis failed to rise to the occasion during a crucial IPL 2025 Eliminator as Gujarat Titans fell short in their chase against Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Chasing a steep target of 229, Gujarat Titans needed early momentum. While opener Sai Sudharsan led the charge with a composed 80 off 49 deliveries, Kusal Mendis—expected to play a key supporting role—could not live up to expectations on this competitive stage.

Mendis, who had the platform to make an impact, started aggressively with two sixes in his 10-ball 20 but threw away his wicket in an uncharacteristic manner—getting out hit wicket to Mitchell Santner. In a high-pressure match where composure was vital, Mendis’s dismissal was a major setback for GT, stalling their momentum during a promising phase of the innings.

This was an opportunity for Mendis to demonstrate consistency and reliability at the highest level of franchise cricket, especially with the eyes of selectors and fans fixed on performances under pressure. However, the lack of game awareness and a reckless approach led to a soft exit at a crucial moment.

GT eventually managed 208/6, falling short by 20 runs. With Mendis’s early exit, the middle order was left exposed to the mounting run rate, and despite brief resistance from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, the chase fizzled out.

While Mendis has shown flashes of brilliance in previous matches, this performance serves as a reminder of the demands of knockout-stage cricket. With playoffs being the toughest test of mental and technical strength, Sri Lanka’s white-ball star must tighten his game to deliver when it matters most.

News

Awareness Media Briefing on New Sports Regulations

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Editor

A special media briefing on the new regulations under the Sports Act was held on May 30, 2025, at the Department of Government Information, with the aim of raising public awareness on the upcoming changes to Sri Lanka’s sports governance framework.

The event featured key officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including:

Sunil Kumara Gamagedara – Minister of Youth and Sports
Sugath Thilakaratne – Deputy Minister of Sports
Aruna Bandara – Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports
Shemal Fernando – Director General of Sports
Priyantha Ekanayake – Chairman, National Sports Council

These leaders addressed the media on the impact, scope, and enforcement of the new regulations, highlighting their importance in ensuring transparency, accountability, and modernization in Sri Lanka’s sports sector.