Dr. Manil Fernando (L), Umar Jaswer (C) and Ranjith Rodrigo
By Suil Premalal
Football Sri Lanka (FSL), which is serving a FIFA ban, has called for nominations for the election of office-bearers for the period 2023-2027, starting yesterday (August 14) till August 19 at a Special General Meeting (SGM) of Football League representatives.
The announcement comes following the settlement of a court case last week, where it was decided the FSL elections would be held by September 16.
However, since a month’s period must be given between the release of the official candidates list and the conducting of the elections, the latter will now be conducted on September 29. Under the proposed electoral road map agreed between FIFA and FSL, the notification of the FSL elective congress has to be sent to its members by August 14 the latest, with the candidatures to be filed by August 19.
The official list of candidates will be released on August 29, with the elections thereby being held a month later on September 29.
The Football League representatives unanimously decided to appoint a three-person independent official election committee for that purpose.
Retired High Court Judge U.L Majeed (chairman), retired Justice Bandula Athapatuthu and retired Major General Upali Gunasekara were appointed to the election committee.
In accordance with FIFA regulations, the vote will be conducted via
secret ballot.
The appointment of officials for 13 posts of FSL will be done through
the election.
This decision was announced at a press conference following the SGM with the participation of FSL immediate past president Umar Jaswar, former president Ranjith Rodrigo and former Senior Vice President Dr Manil Fernando and FSL affiliated League representatives at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo yesterday.
Meanwhile, it has also been decided to hold the election in accordance with the football constitution which was passed by a two-thirds majority with the approval of 61 league representatives on September 22, 2022 by the football executive committee that existed before the FIFA ban.
The controversial new football constitution has been approved by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and has already been registered in the Sports Ministry.
