NOTHING AS SUCH TO ANSWER – NOC General Secretary
It is reported that M H Usuph has recorded his statement after being summoned at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on 26th April 2022 regarding financial irregularities, misuse of finances and abuse of finances during the period of 2016-17 that have taken place at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka.
The Commission has informed the complainant that they will be taking suitable action in the future.
The complainant has based his complaint on the revelations been made 2016 – 2017Audit report and has requested the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to take action and enforce the law applicable against the officials holding office during this period of time.
A complaint was previously lodged by the complainant at the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau and he has cited the main matter here that the top officials of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka have misused a sum of U S$ ten thousand each for the 2016 Rio Olympics each where they have misused funds by drawing funds in duplicate for the same purpose from two organizations Viz: International Olympic Committee and National Olympic Committee as well. They have withdrawn funds locally from the National Olympic Committee while they had already drawn the same amount from the International Olympic Committee.
However the named two top officials have retained the duplicated drawing and suppose to have returned the funds after a long period of time. Therefore the complainant has accused that the 2 top officials of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka have misused funds in a national and public organization.
Further in his statement he has revealed information of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka,
By way of not using funds amounting to US $ 18,300.00 received from the International Olympic Committee for the purpose of conducting a Hockey Tournament, Purposely causing a loss to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka in renting of the Restaurant and the Gymnasium owned by NOCSL, Not using for the purpose the sum of rupees ten million received from the International Olympic Committee to be distributed among national sports federations , waste of US$30,000.00 of money for software which has been disconnected and not gained its purpose and many other facts.
This complaint which has been totally based on the revelations made in the 2017 audit report of the National Audit Office.
In response Maxwell De Silva General Secretary has stated that it’s not necessary for the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka to answer. Maxwell De Silva stated In this audit report it doesn’t state that the Top Officials of the National Olympic Committee have stolen any funds. Anyone can make such statements of accusations. Maxwell De Silva also stated that these accusations made have to be proved.
He also stated further that the people behind this person who has made this complaint is none other than few persons who have loosed at the Olympic Committee elections always and who aspire to take office of the top seats of the Olympic Committee. In sorrow of their defeat they are using this person and slinging mud as a routine.
We are answerable and a responsible organization to the International body and we abide by the law of the country.
ACCUSATIONS BROUGHT HAVE TO BE PROVED AS WELL.
Courtesy : Lankdeepa 27th April 2022