Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) has responded to criticism over the management of its athletics contingent at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, attributing the issues to communication lapses amid a complex selection process. The controversy arose after remarks from the Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Asanga Seneviratne, who publicly questioned the competence of SLA officials during an event in Colombo on September 11.
Bimal Wijayasinghe, SLA President since March 12, offered a detailed explanation, emphasizing that the difficulties stemmed partly from the transitional period following the suspension of SLA by the Ministry of Sports in August 2025. During that suspension, a Competent Authority was appointed and initially handled key phases of athlete qualification and selection, which created challenges for Wijayasinghe and his team when they assumed leadership mid-process.
Initially, SLA was assigned a quota of 18 athletes by the NOC, which was later increased to 24 after further negotiations. The expanded list included relay teams in nearly all categories, though challenges remained regarding the timing and inclusion of certain athletes. Wijayasinghe pointed to the late qualification attempts of sprinters Shafiya Yannick, Amasha de Silva, and Supun Senanayake, who featured on the long list but did not meet the final qualification criteria in their individual events. Their potential inclusion in relay teams was also complicated by quota limits and timing issues.
Efforts were made to ensure participation in relay events, with SLA attempting to incorporate Yannick and de Silva into the 4x100m and 4x200m mixed relays, supported by Asian Games athletics team manager I.M. Ranasinghe, who facilitated training sessions focused on baton exchanges. The final contingent comprised 24 athletes and eight officials, with 13 athletes entered in individual events and others competing in relays such as Mixed 4x400m, Men’s and Women’s 4x400m, and Men’s 4x100m. To accommodate specialized coaching needs, Wijayasinghe voluntarily removed his name from the list to include a sprint coach.
Training camp plans also encountered obstacles. Two camps—one residential camp proposed by the Sri Lanka Army and another in Nagasaki, Japan, arranged through the Japan Association of Athletics Federations—were ultimately canceled due to unspecified reasons.
The initial long list of 28 athletes, submitted by the Competent Authority on January 14, included a broad selection of potential qualifiers, which was gradually narrowed down through established procedures involving the NOC and the National Selection Committee. SLA maintains the final team included athletes with strong medal prospects and that the process was conducted with thorough consideration despite administrative setbacks.
The situation faced by SLA is not unique in Sri Lankan sports governance. The Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) also underwent an extended period under a Competent Authority before elected officials resumed control, eventually achieving a historic third place at the Asian Netball Championship despite similar procedural hurdles. Officials suggest that SLA’s current challenges reflect broader systemic transitions and the complexities of managing national sports contingents amid governance changes.