Internal Power Struggle Rocks Football Federation of Sri Lanka

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.