Seasoned sports administrator and businessman Shirantha Peiris officially announced yesterday (March 15) that he will contest the presidency at the upcoming National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) election scheduled for April 25.
Peiris, who currently serves as a Vice President of the NOCSL’s outgoing Executive Board, is also the head of the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF). In addition to his administrative roles, he is an active sportsman and one of the country’s leading clay target shooters.
Speaking at a media briefing held at Olympic House yesterday morning, Peiris explained that his decision to run for president was driven by a desire to restore credibility and improve the image of Olympic sports in Sri Lanka.
“I decided to contest the presidency of the NOCSL with the intention of cleaning the image of all Olympic sports in this country,” he said.
Peiris also criticized the way some sports associations operate, claiming that certain officials treat these organizations as opportunities for overseas travel rather than platforms for genuine sports development.
“Many sports associations and officials are using such bodies like travel agencies. That is the plain truth, and I want to change that narrative,” he stated.
If elected, Peiris said his administration would focus on supporting athletes and building systems that help sportsmen and women succeed both locally and internationally.
“Our primary objective will be to serve the potential of athletes and create opportunities for them to excel. I will not compromise on that under any circumstance,” he emphasized.
He also assured that under his leadership, the NOCSL would not be misused for personal benefits such as foreign trips for officials.
Peiris revealed that he is still in the process of forming his team for the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) election. However, he publicly invited current NOCSL Secretary General Rifdy Fahmy and outgoing Vice President Niloo Jayathileke to continue in their respective positions if he is elected president.
Meanwhile, Fahmy confirmed that during the Special General Meeting (SGM) held on March 14, a three-member election commission was appointed to oversee the upcoming election. The commission is headed by retired Supreme Court Justice K. T. Chithrasiri, with Harsha Amarasekara, President’s Counsel, and Attorney-at-Law Piyasena Ranasinghe serving as members.
Outgoing NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam also expressed hope that the final report of the ongoing forensic audit commissioned by the NOCSL—conducted with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)—will be released before the AGM.
The comprehensive audit, carried out by Moore Consulting, covers financial and administrative activities from 2015 to 2024. According to Subramaniam, draft reports for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017 have already been received, while the remaining reports are expected before the election.
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