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Major Shake-Up in Sports Governance: New 2025 Regulations Reform National Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka

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In a significant move to overhaul the country’s sports governance, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially replaced the National Sports Associations Regulations No. 01 of 2024 with a stricter and more transparent version titled National Sports Associations Regulations No. 01 of 2025, gazetted on May 21.

The 2025 regulations promise enhanced transparency, accountability, and integrity in Sri Lanka’s sports administration. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable changes:

1. Probation Period for New Federations

Under the 2025 regulations:

  • New sports associations will be registered on a 2-year probationary basis, only gaining full registration if they show activity in at least 7 districts.
  • The 2024 rules allowed immediate full registration with just documentation and a Rs. 50,000 fee. The new regulations reduce the fee to Rs. 30,000, but require a presence in at least 3 districts at registration, with expansion to 7 for permanent status.

2. New Eligibility Criteria for Executive Committees

  • Professional Qualifications Introduced: For key posts like Treasurer, candidates must now be Chartered Accountants or hold degrees in management or commerce.
  • For other executive roles, candidates must have either represented Sri Lanka or placed at recognized national-level events or have 15 years in relevant professions (law, medicine, sports science, engineering, accounting).

This marks a shift from the 2024 rules, which mainly emphasized finance-related qualifications but lacked performance or academic requirements.

3. Term Limits Tightened

  • Previously, individuals could serve up to 16 years (with 8 years max for roles like President/Secretary). Now, the limit is 12 years across all roles—whether continuously or intermittently.
  • Importantly, interim committee service is now counted toward this limit, preventing career-long occupation of executive positions.

4. Disqualification Criteria Expanded

The 2025 law significantly strengthens the integrity standards for sports administrators by expanding the disqualification criteria. Key additions and clarifications include:

  • Convictions under Amended Sports Law or Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act: Anyone found guilty under these updated laws is automatically disqualified.
  • Misconduct Proven by Sports Authorities: Any individual found guilty of financial misconduct, corruption, or disciplinary offences by a formal committee appointed by the Minister, Ministry of Sports, or Department of Sports Development will be disqualified.
  • Criminal Convictions: Any person convicted of money laundering, bribery, or corruption and sentenced to 6 months or more.
  • Media Conflicts: Former journalists, media owners, or key shareholders are barred if involved within the past two years.
  • Relatives of National Athletes: Spouses, parents, and siblings of national pool athletes are disqualified.
  • Involvement in Betting, Match-Fixing, or Human Trafficking
  • Failure to Return from International Duty: Individuals who absconded while representing Sri Lanka are barred.
  • Politicians Disqualified: Current MPs, Provincial Council members, and Local Government representatives are ineligible.
  • This overhaul reflects a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, conflict of interest, and unprofessional conduct in Sri Lankan sports governance.

The 2024 law also had disqualifications, but 2025’s list is clearer, stricter, and more enforceable.

5. Stricter Election & Voting Rules

  • Voting rights are tied to active participation in national events. Associations failing to attend three consecutive meetings lose voting privileges.
  • All AGM documentation must be sent 14 days in advance to all affiliates (reduced from 21 days in 2024).
  • New members cannot vote in the AGM where they were admitted—ensuring stability.

6. More Transparency in Selections

  • All selection trials and criteria must be published 28 days in advance and informed to athletes 14 days prior.
  • Final selection results must be published online.
  • Trials conducted at the personal discretion of officials or coaches can be invalidated.

7. New Emphasis on Local Development

  • National Associations are now mandated to:
    • Promote the sport in every province
    • Maintain monthly meetings (with school reps present)
    • Submit a 5-year strategic plan
    • Develop regional, district and provincial structures in all GN divisions

This is a substantial shift from the previous framework which focused more on organizational formalities than grassroots development.

8. International Participation Regulated

  • Only athletes approved by the Sports Minister after going through the selection, fitness, and medical vetting can use “Sri Lanka” or national colours abroad.
  • Unauthorized representation may result in a 10-year suspension.

Editorial Insight

The 2025 regulations represent a paradigm shift—from a loosely monitored setup to a system that rewards merit, ensures compliance, and is prepared to discipline violators. It’s the boldest attempt in recent years to clean up Sri Lanka’s sports governance, aligning it more closely with international standards and public expectations.

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Football

Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College

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Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.

The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.

Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.

The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.

This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.

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Football

Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message

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Colombo – June 13
Sri Lankan national footballer Mohamed Thilham, who recently made headlines after displaying a “PRAY FOR FREE PALESTINE” message on his undershirt during post-match celebrations, has now been officially penalized by international football authorities.

Following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on June 10 at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium, Thilham—a non-playing substitute—unveiled the message, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

⚠️ AFC Sanctions Player with USD 2,000 Fine

FIFA, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has now issued a formal disciplinary notice to the player, imposing a USD 2,000 fine. This letter, according to sources within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), was sent addressing to Thilham, underscoring AFC stance on politically charged expressions at official matches.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, players are prohibited from displaying political, religious, or personal slogans during matches or official ceremonies. While Thilham’s gesture occurred after the final whistle, FIFA and AFC treat any action within the stadium environment as part of official conduct.

⚽ FFSL Under Scrutiny for Disciplinary Action

FFSL President Jaswar Umar previously stated that the act “was not authorized by the federation” and “violates international football disciplinary norms.” He also confirmed that the FFSL would take internal disciplinary action against the player.

However, this incident has reignited public debate over the role of athletes in social advocacy and the limits imposed by international sports law. While some supporters see Thilham’s actions as courageous and morally driven, others have raised concerns about the player’s career stability and future opportunities under increasing scrutiny.

📝 Editorial Insight

At Sri Lankan Sports TV, we initially chose to withhold the content of the message in our match coverage—out of responsibility to the player’s career and to respect global sports protocol. However, the message went viral after several social media users circulated the full image, seemingly with the intention of sparking controversy.

The resulting spotlight has unfortunately led to a formal penalty, underscoring the real-world consequences that athletes may face when international regulations intersect with personal conviction.

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Football

Part 2: FIFA Funds Squandered – Inside the Financial Collapse of Sri Lanka Football

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In continuation of Sri Lankan Sports TV’s exclusive coverage of the Kusala Sarojini Inquiry Report, this feature focuses on the financial irregularities uncovered within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)—which played a central role in the nation’s football crisis.

The Special Inquiry Committee, chaired by Retired High Court Judge Mrs. Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, exposes how over a decade of misusing FIFA and AFC development funds directly contributed to the collapse of Sri Lankan football.

“It could be observed that financial procedure which follows proper methodology has not been maintained in the Football Federation of Sri Lanka since before 2014.”
FIFA Sri Lanka Inquiry Report (2023)

Millions in Global Funding – Little to Show on the Pitch

Between 2018 and 2022, the FFSL received consistent international grants, including:

  • USD 500,000 annually from FIFA
  • USD 500,000 annually from the AFC
  • USD 100,000 annually for equipment purchases
  • USD 200,000 for air tickets for international competitions
  • COVID emergency funding during 2021 and 2022

However, the report confirms that most of these funds were misused or misappropriated, with little to no investment in grassroots development or player welfare.

“Although FFSL had a Chartered Accountant, the financial powers were concentrated among elected officials, and payments were made without transparency, contrary to proper accounting practices.”
Sri Lanka Inquiry Report, p. 10

Highlights of Financial Mismanagement

Ticket Scandals & Undocumented Spending

  • Rs. 16 million was spent on 230 Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 tickets, but:
    • No records of buyers
    • No receipts
    • No profits to FFSL
  • Rs. 12 million paid for footballs that were never delivered; transaction done via WhatsApp—no contract or supplier identified

“Not only were proper procurement methods not followed, in many cases there was no documentation at all.”
Inquiry Committee

Reckless Dollar Transfers Amid National Crisis

  • During Sri Lanka’s 2022 dollar shortage, FFSL moved USD 500,000 to a rupee account without Executive Committee approval, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 75 million.

“Transfer of dollars without a justifiable need during a high exchange rate period inflicted a significant financial loss on the Federation.”
Report Section: Financial Control

Crony Contracts & Fake Tenders

  • Catering contracts were awarded to individuals connected to former FFSL executives without calling quotations.
  • In most instances, approvals were made based on verbal instructions or internal memos, bypassing required board procedures.

Ghost Coaches, Unused Staff

A coach hired for the U-23 national team was paid Rs. 200,000/month, even though no team was ever formed.

  • “Coordination officers” across Sri Lanka were paid monthly with no service rendered.
  • PAYE taxes were paid (Rs. 3.3 million) for foreign coaches with no clear deliverables.

“Despite making these payments, youth development remained stagnant and the national teams were not properly formed or trained.”
Committee Observation

Rs. 100 Million Used as Election Bribe?

  • A Rs. 100 million fixed deposit—intended as a financial reserve—was used to send 73 league officials to Malaysia, allegedly in exchange for future votes.

“This action was considered as a bribe given to them with the purpose of getting votes in the future.”
Page 11, Report

A System Without Checks

The Committee notes that former FFSL President Mr. Jaswar Umaru Lebbe held dual powers as President and Chairman of the Finance Committee, enabling unchecked control over finances.

“This situation was extremely inappropriate and harmful.”
Inquiry Report, p. 16

Payments were routinely authorized by Mr. Jaswar and a few close allies, without proper board oversight or documentation.

The Fallout – A Sport in Decline

As a result of this mismanagement:

  • Sri Lanka’s men’s team plummeted to 207th in FIFA rankings by 2022
  • FFSL was suspended by FIFA in January 2023
  • National youth programs, women’s football, futsal, and coaching development were completely inactive

A Glimmer of Recovery – Ranking Now 196th

Since early 2023, now, Sri Lanka’s FIFA ranking has climbed to 196th—a 10-place improvement. However, the report warns that structural reform is essential to ensure this progress is not lost.

“Financial control and administration must be independent, transparent, and free from political interference.”
Official Recommendation by Kusala Sarojini-led Committee

What Must Happen Now?

The committee strongly recommends:

  1. Forensic audit of FFSL finances since 2012
  2. Criminal complaints under Sections 386, 389, and 403 of the Penal Code
  3. Legal reform to prevent future abuse:
    • Term limits for officials
    • Ban on combining finance and executive powers
    • Mandatory procurement audits
  4. Quarterly public financial disclosures

“A system must be developed to prevent elected officials from having unilateral control over funds.”
Report, p. 17

The Final Word

The Inquiry, led by Justice Kusala Sarojini, leaves no doubt:
Sri Lanka’s football didn’t fail from a lack of funds—it failed because those funds were looted by those entrusted to protect the game.

“If transparency, legal action, and governance reform are not implemented, this country’s football will have no future.”
Inquiry Report, Final Section

Coming Up in Part 3:
How fake leagues, ghost clubs, and vote-buying tactics poisoned the electoral system of Sri Lankan football.

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