May 30, Colombo (LNW): Sports Minister Harin Fernando has issued a Gazette declaration suspending the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation, the Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, the Sri Lanka Automobile Federation, and the Sri Lanka Netball Federation, effective from Wednesday (29).
The Extraordinary Gazette also designates Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando, Director General of the Department of Sports Development, as the competent authority for the specific purpose of overseeing the elections of office bearers for these national sports governing bodies.
In a post on ‘X’, Sports Minister Harin Fernando affirmed, “The Government will not appoint any interim committees for any sports federation.”
1/2 A gazette notification is issued suspending the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation, Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, Sri Lanka Automobile Federation and Sri Lanka Netball Federation with effect from today (29), making the Director General of the
— Harin Fernando (@fernandoharin) May 29, 2024
2/2 Department of Sports Development the competent authority only for the limited purpose of holding the Elections of Office bearers. The Government maintains that it will not appoint any interim committees for any sport Federation
— Harin Fernando (@fernandoharin) May 29, 2024
The Gazette notification says the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs temporarily suspends the registration of the aforementioned sports federations under the authority granted by Sections 32 and 33 of the Sports Law, No. 25 of 1973, and its amendments.
Furthermore, Professor (Rear Admiral) Shemal Fernando is appointed as the competent authority from 29th May 2024.
This temporary measure is intended to facilitate the administrative functions, conduct relevant elections, and ensure proper governance of the federations until new office bearers are elected.