News

Internal Power Struggle Rocks Football Federation of Sri Lanka

Published

3 months ago

November 14, 2024

Editor

Internal Source Reveals an internal conflict within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has erupted once again, as the Vice President has raised serious concerns over the President’s actions, claiming that the President has overstepped his constitutional authority in appointing a General Secretary. In a letter addressed to the FFSL’s Executive Committee, the Vice President points out that the President’s recent move to sign a contract with the purported General Secretary, without the Executive Committee’s approval, violates the FFSL constitution.

The Vice President highlights that, according to Article 41(2) of the FFSL constitution, only the Executive Committee has the power to appoint a General Secretary, with the President merely holding the authority to propose such an appointment. This means that the President cannot unilaterally sign contracts or appoint a General Secretary without the committee’s consent. Furthermore, the Vice President criticizes a clause in the contract that grants the President exclusive rights to propose the dismissal of the General Secretary, which directly contradicts the FFSL constitution.

This dispute is not new, as a similar power struggle occurred in 2021, when the Vice President publicly accused the President of acting beyond his authority. Despite these past disagreements, the two ran together in the FFSL elections of 2023, joining forces with another prominent football figure to contest for leadership. However, the ongoing internal rift has led to growing dissatisfaction among football stakeholders, who are expressing concern over the lack of progress in Sri Lanka’s football scene.

With this current dispute intensifying, FFSL stakeholders are left concerned about the stability and direction of Sri Lankan football, which has faced persistent challenges in recent years. Many in the football community have expressed disappointment, noting that ongoing power struggles within FFSL leadership continue to overshadow efforts to promote and develop the sport nationwide.

Football

Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024: Super Eight Round Concludes – Semifinalists Confirmed!

Published

21 hours ago

February 21, 2025

Editor

The Super Eight Round of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2024 (Under 20 Division 1 Boys Football Tournament) has ended on a high note, producing four standout teams that will battle for a place in the final. Below is a comprehensive look at the match results, final points tables, and key highlights from the tournament so far.

Match Results Overview

St. Joseph’s College 4-0 Darussalam College
Kalutara Muslim Central 2-3 Alighar National School
Hameed Al Husseine College 1-0 Al Falah College
Zahira College 4-0 St. Patrick’s College
St. Joseph’s College 1-1 Alighar National School
Darussalam College 7-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
Al Falah College 0-3 Zahira College
St. Patrick’s College 0-4 Hameed Al Husseine College
Alighar National School 5-1 Darussalam College
St. Joseph’s College 1-0 Kalutara Muslim Central
Zahira College 2-0 Hameed Al Husseine College
Al Falah College 3-2 St. Patrick’s College

Group A Standings

Rank	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Alighar National School	3	2	1	0	9	4	+5	7
2	St. Joseph’s College	3	2	1	0	6	1	+5	7
3	Darussalam College	3	1	0	2	8	9	-1	3
4	Kalutara Muslim Central College	3	0	0	3	2	11	-9	0

Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):

Alighar National School
St. Joseph’s College

Group B Standings

Rank	Team	P	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Zahira College	3	3	0	9	0	+9	9
2	Hameed Al Husseine College	3	2	1	5	2	+3	6
3	Al Falah College	3	1	2	3	6	-3	3
4	St. Patrick’s College	3	0	3	2	11	-9	0

Top Two (Advancing to Semifinals):

Zahira College
Hameed Al Husseine College

Summary & Semi-Final Preview

Alighar National School and St. Joseph’s College finished level on points at the top of Group A. Their draw against each other kept the race tight, but both teams delivered strong performances in the remaining matches to secure 7 points each.
Zahira College dominated Group B with three consecutive wins, scoring 9 goals and conceding none. Hameed Al Husseine College followed suit, showcasing solid defense and earning 6 points to claim the second semi-final berth.
Darussalam College, Kalutara Muslim Central, Al Falah College, and St. Patrick’s College showed fighting spirit but fell short in the quest for the knockout stage.

Semi Finals

Alighar National School will face Hameed Al Husseine College in the Semi Finals
Zahira College will face St. Joseph’s College in the Semi Finals

The semi-finals promise high-octane clashes as the top contenders face off. Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for exclusive match previews, live coverage, and post-match analysis as we approach the grand finale of the Sri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025.

News

World Rugby Sets Final Deadline for Sri Lanka Rugby Governance Reforms

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2025

Editor

World Rugby has extended Sri Lanka Rugby’s (SLR) deadline until June 15, 2025, to address its governance issues, warning that failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions, including a possible ban from international competitions.

Acknowledging the persistent efforts of Sri Lanka’s Competent Authority and Director General of Sports, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, World Rugby remains firm on its conditions. SLR must implement a revised constitution and conduct elections within the next four months to meet international standards.

To oversee these reforms, a Working Taskforce has been formed, featuring representatives from World Rugby, Asia Rugby, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan government. Led by Asia Rugby, this task force is responsible for guiding SLR through the required changes.

The reform process consists of two key phases. The initial phase focuses on reviewing voting eligibility, finalizing constitutional amendments, and organizing a Special General Meeting (SGM). The next phase involves adopting the new constitution at the SGM, followed by elections monitored by World Rugby, Asia Rugby, and local sports authorities.

SLR has faced repeated scrutiny over governance failures, prompting multiple interventions from international rugby bodies. With this deadline set, Sri Lanka Rugby has one final opportunity to align with global governance standards and secure its future in international rugby.

Football

Sky Market Travels Joins Hands with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football

Published

3 days ago

February 19, 2025

Editor

Sky Market Travels, a leading travel agency, has partnered with Sri Lanka Schools’ Football to contribute to the development of school football in the country.

As a first step, Sky Market Travels (Pvt) Ltd has joined as a sponsor for the Sri Lanka Schools’ National Championship 2024 Under-20 Division One tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Football Association.

This prestigious tournament, featuring 20 of Sri Lanka’s top school teams, has long been a vital platform for young players to showcase their talent at the national level. By stepping in as a sponsor, Sky Market Travels is playing a key role in supporting the future of Sri Lankan school football.

The event was attended by the President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, Jaswar Umar, the Head of the Coach Education Department and former National Team Captain, Sampath Perera, Elite Youth Manager Dudley Steinwal, Members of Schools’ Football Association, and the Managing Director of Sky Market Travels (Pvt) ltd Mohamed Faroos, the President of the Negombo Poruthota Soccer Fans Rizwan, and its Manager Nufri.

With this partnership, Sky Market Travels has taken a significant step in uplifting school football and providing aspiring young footballers with better opportunities to excel at the national level.