IOC and OCA draw firm line on delayed NOC elections
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have finally drawn a firm line for Sri Lanka sport, insisting that long delayed elections at the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) must be held by the end of April 2026, while categorically barring tainted officials from re-entering the system.
In a joint communication addressed to NOC President Suresh Subramaniam, the IOC and OCA have made it clear that only members with a clean slate are eligible to contest or even participate in the Elective General Assembly. Any official currently under investigation or facing sanctions has been instructed to refrain from all involvement with the NOC, in keeping with the core principles of good governance and ethical conduct that underpin the Olympic Movement.
The incumbent President of NOC has informed the IOC of the delay, while the Sports Minister was approached by NOC members
NOC went through a major administrative upheaval last year with its Secretary General being slapped with a five-year ban on charges of violation of multiple constitutional provisions while several members are being investigated.
The NOC elections have been overdue since December last year, largely due to an ongoing forensic audit into the organisation’s financial operations and internal management. While acknowledging the importance of this audit, the IOC and OCA have firmly stated that its pending status cannot be used as a justification to indefinitely postpone the AGM and elections. Democratic processes, they stress, cannot be held hostage by delay.
Accordingly, the international bodies have directed that the AGM and quadrennial Elective General Assembly be convened as soon as possible and no later than the end of April. Their expectation is that by then the forensic audit will be completed, a comprehensive report submitted, and any necessary corrective action taken. The objective is not merely to conduct an election, but to do so in a manner that restores long term credibility and integrity to Sri Lanka’s Olympic body.
Central to the IOC and OCA position is the unequivocal exclusion of individuals under investigation. This stance, first articulated in a letter dated January 2025 and reiterated again in January 2026, leaves no room for interpretation. Such individuals are not eligible to attend the General Assembly or seek office, as this would directly undermine the ethical standards demanded by the Olympic Charter.
At the same time, the IOC and OCA have opted for continuity to avoid administrative paralysis. They will continue to recognise the incumbent President and the current Executive Board until elections are held. Their role during this interim period is clearly defined. They are to manage daily operations, implement the required steps within prescribed timelines, and ensure that the election process proceeds smoothly and without further delay.
This intervention comes against the backdrop of one of the lowest points in NOC history. Only months ago, the organisation was struggling to function after IOC and OCA funding was withheld due to governance concerns. Staff salaries were under threat, routine operations were disrupted, and Sri Lanka’s reputation within the international sporting community suffered serious damage.
A measure of stability returned only after the suspension and resignation of several members of the previous Executive Committee and their replacement by professionals with expertise in management and administration. This restructuring prompted the IOC and OCA to re repose confidence in the NOC and resume funding, recognising a genuine effort to align with acceptable governance standards.
The current directive therefore represents more than a procedural instruction. It is an opportunity for meaningful reform. The IOC, as the ultimate authority on the interpretation of the NOC Constitution and custodian of the Olympic Charter, has laid out a clear path anchored in transparency, accountability and ethical conduct.
The responsibility now lies with the NOC membership. The sporting public will expect officials to respect protocol, uphold decorum and place the interests of athletes and national sport above personal ambition. Clean elections conducted within a credible framework can mark a turning point for Sri Lanka sport. Failure to do so will only deepen mistrust and prolong a cycle the country can ill afford to repeat.