Committee findings reveal CMSC not guilty of dealing with FIA
In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC), the Administrative Committee of the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) has found that the July 2024 ban imposed on CMSC was contrary to the Constitution of SLAS and relevant rules. The finding was communicated to the Court of Appeal on July 7, 2025.
It was further submitted to the court that, should the Director General revoke the impugned decision in light of the finding, there would be no need to proceed with the application before the Court of Appeal, as the substantive reliefs sought by CMSC’s petition would no longer be applicable.
CMSC, Sri Lanka’s oldest motor sports club and the long-standing local representative of the global governing body FIA, was controversially banned by the Director General of Sports on July 11, 2024. The ban cited alleged violations of a 2017 Gazette due to CMSC’s affiliation with the FIA. The club facilitates the issuance of international licences for top Sri Lankan drivers like Dilantha Malagamuwa and Yevan David.
Following a legal petition filed on August 4, 2024, the Court of Appeal granted an interim order suspending the ban. Counsel informed the court that if the Director General revokes the ban in light of the Committee’s findings, the petition may be withdrawn. The interim order remains in effect, and the case was re-fixed for hearing on September 11, 2025. Counsel Nishan Sydney Premathiratne appeared with Attorneys-at-Law Shenali Dias and Manith Dasanayake instructed by Gamindu Karunasena for the petitioners.