Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 18, 2025: The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka successfully conducted a workshop on ‘Strengthening Good Governance in Sri Lankan Sports Organisations’ at its headquarters in Colombo last week.
The workshop brought together presidents, secretaries and other representatives from National Sports Federations, alongside officials from the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Education.
Also in attendance were Ms. Niloo Jayatilake, NOCSL Vice President, and Ms. Anoma Ratnayaka, senior lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, among other distinguished guests.
The keynote address was given by Professor Geoffrey Dickson of La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Welcoming all participants, Prithiviraj Perera, NOCSL Treasurer and Chair of the Education Committee, highlighted the timing of the workshop, noting that many sporting bodies face governance challenges that have even affected international funding.
“This is the moment to rebuild capacities through appropriate stakeholders and partnerships, and ensure transparency and accountability in governance,” Perera said, urging collaboration between federations, government agencies and the Sri Lanka NOC.
Drawing from Australian best practices, Professor Dickson emphasised that true governance required more than compliance – it demands cultural transformation.
“Governance reform provides the rules for good decision-making but culture gives those rules life,” Professor Dickson remarked. He noted that strengthening governance and high level coaching competency would also enhance athletes' performance.
