FOR SLA ELECTION FOR 2026-28 TERM: our-pronged tussle for athletics top seat

• Ex-DIG Kumarasiri and sprinter Shehan out of the race 

A four-cornered tussle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) emerged as the nominations for its election of office bearers for the 2026-28 term concluded yesterday (12).

According to Sports Ministry sources the objections raised linked to the nominations are to be entertained during the next 48-hour period, while those whose objections are dismissed could submit those with the Appeal Advisory Board of the Sports Ministry.

Ex-national athlete, coach and head of the local governing body Sunil Gunawardana is expected to face strong competition for the presidency by Indika Prasanna, SSP G. Sugath Kumara and Bimal Wijayasingha, respectively at the election which is likely to be held in either late this month or early February.

Gunawardana a feted former athlete of the 1970s and 80s is from the Trackmaster Sports Club, while Prasanna is the head of the Mercantile Athletics Association with SSP G. Sugath Kumara and Wijayasingha head of the Olcott Schools Collective being the rest of the contestants.

A notable omission from those originally planning to contest the presidency is the nomination of former DIG Upali Kumarasiri of the Srilak Athletics Club and the entry of SSP Sugath Kumara to the race.

Meanwhile, a three-cornered contest has sprung up for the post of Secretary of SLA with N.S.A. Madhawa Bandara Senarath, Dr. Dhammika Senanayaka and Sameera Perera being the three nominees.

It was earlier reported that former champion sprinter Shehan Ambepitiya was set to vie for the said portfolio at the SLA election for the new term but when the nominations closed his name was conspicuous by its absence.

Rasika Nilanganee and H.R.J. Hewage are set to vie for the post of Treasurer while the SLA Committee is to be made up of 23 members.

The SLA election of office bearers is set to be overseen by a five-member Election Committee (EC) and it is helmed by retired Court of Appeal Justice Lalith U. Jayasuriya.

In August, 2025 the Sports Ministry indefinitely postponed the election to SLA in the wake of protests and allegations made over the formation of the previous EC.

The previous EC was headed by retired High Court Judge Wimal Nambuwasam. However, challenges made related to legitimacy of nominations submitted by certain candidates to crucial posts, also compelled the Ministry of Sports to put off the AGM, having nullified the questionable nominations.

Sports Minister Sunil Kumara in July last year temporarily suspended the registration of the SLA as per the provisions of Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 through an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, to amend its Constitution and with a view to expediting its election.

The Minister subsequently transferred the governance of the game’s local controlling body to the Acting Director General (DG) of Sports of the Department of Sports Development affiliated to his Ministry V. Premachanthiran. The Acting DG was succeeded by S. Achchudan as the new DG of Sports early this month. 

Nominations List for SLA AGM

President – Sunil Gunawardana, Indika Prasanna, SSP G. Sugath Kumara and Bimal Wijayasingha

Vice Presidents – Jagath Silva, Jayantha Siyamudali, Prasanna Aluwihare, Iranganee Rupasingha, Geethika Jayathilaka, Indika Prasanna and Lal Kumara

Secretary – N.S.A. Madhawa Bandara Senarath, Dr. Dhammika Senanayaka and Sameera Perera

Asst. Secretary – Alloy Nishantha Wickramasinghe, Dr. Dhammika Senanayaka, Sameera Perera and K. A. Mahesh Gunarathna

Treasurer – Rasika Nilanganee and H.R.J. Hewage

Asst. Treasurer – B.C. Sarukkali, U.G. Wickramasingha, M.K. Shantha de Silva and H.A. Upali

Recorder – S.M.A.B. Samarakoon and Shehan Ambepitiya  

Source - The Morning