Jaswar Umar elected new President of FSL

By Susil Premalal

Jaswar Umar pledged to implement his plans to ‘Restart Football’ both locally and internationally after being elected President of Football Sri Lanka (FSL) by a majority of six votes yesterday.  

The FSL elections postponed five times was held in three different venues at Galle, Kandy and Polonnaruwa. The incumbent FSL General Secretary Umar polled 96 votes while his rival FSL Medical Commission chairman and Kalutara District Football League president Dr. Manil Fernando got 90 votes.  

This is the first time that the office of FSL President has been closely contested.  

Jaswar who began his football career at Royal College from the age of 14, became President of the Sri Lanka Football Referees Association and also rose to become an international match commissioner.  

Dr. Fernando’s camp withdrew their nominations for the other posts after Jaswar was elected President.  

Former Sri Lanka captain and the incumbent FSL President Anura de Silva who aligned with Dr. Fernando was left without any position after withdrawing his candidature for the post of General Secretary.

The new FSL office-bearers:  
President – Jaswar Umar  
Vice Presidents – Ranjith Rodrigo, K.P.P. Pathirana, A.W.A. Jaffar, I.W.G.R. Nagahakanda  
Secretary – Upali Hewage  
Asst. Secretary – K.A. Anuratne  
Treasurer – Arnold Emanuel  
Asst. Treasurer – Anton Sharbin Shela