COLOMBO, Wednesday, December 24 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s long-delayed athletics administration election has been formally restarted after Director General of Sports V. Premachanthiran called a special general meeting on Tuesday, a key move to restore order to the country’s troubled track and field governing body.
The meeting was held at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry of Sports, Colombo 7 where a new independent election committee was appointed and officially given the power to call for fresh nominations. This step ends months of uncertainty surrounding the Sri Lanka Athletics election, which had earlier been postponed without a fixed date due to disputes and legal objections.
Out of 39 registered affiliated associations, the Director General of Sports announced that nine associations will temporarily lose their voting rights as their active status has not been confirmed. However, the Ministry of Sports has granted these nine bodies a two-day grace period to submit documents proving their activities. This deadline will end on December 26 at 2.00 pm.
Officials confirmed that the election will be conducted under new sports regulations, and all nominations submitted about four months ago have been cancelled. Member associations were informed that new nomination dates will be announced shortly, ensuring a fresh and transparent process.
The election was earlier postponed following protests questioning the composition of the previous election committee and the legal eligibility of some candidates. These objections created serious divisions within Sri Lanka Athletics and forced authorities to halt the voting process.
Before the postponement, a three-way contest had emerged for the powerful post of president. Former national athlete and former president Sunil Gunawardena, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police and former selection committee chairman Upali Kumarasinghe, and current vice-president and Mercantile Athletics Association president Prasanna Indika had submitted nominations.
For the post of secretary, Asian Athletics medical chief Dr. Dammika Senanayake was among the candidates, alongside former national athlete Shehan Ambepitiya and coach Madhawa Bandara Senarath.
Sports officials say the fresh process aims to ensure fairness, legality and stability, as Sri Lanka Athletics looks to move forward after months of administrative turmoil.
