June 02, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has moved to place three national sporting organisations under temporary suspension as part of a broader effort to strengthen governance standards and introduce structural reforms within the sector.
In an Extraordinary Gazette issued by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, the registrations of the Sri Lanka Handball Federation, the Sri Lanka Carrom Federation and the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation have been suspended with immediate effect.
Administrative responsibility for all three bodies has been transferred to the Secretary to the Ministry, who has been appointed as the Competent Authority.
The decision, enacted under provisions of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and its subsequent amendments, was formalised through Gazette Extraordinary No. 2489/48. The measure is deemed effective from 19 May 2026.
According to the notification, the intervention is intended to facilitate amendments to the constitutions governing the respective federations and to create a framework for conducting elections in a transparent and accountable manner.
Until the constitutional revisions are completed and fresh elections are held, the Ministry Secretary will exercise full authority over the management, operations and administrative affairs of the three federations. This includes overseeing day-to-day functions, ensuring regulatory compliance and preparing the organisations for the transition to newly elected leadership.
Once the revised constitutions are adopted and Annual General Meetings are convened, members of the respective federations will be able to elect new office-bearers, paving the way for the restoration of independent administration.
The Gazette, bearing the signature of Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, was officially issued on May 19 and marks one of the most significant recent interventions in the governance of national sports federations.
