Sri Lanka’s Olympic Dreams in Muay Thai Crushed by Corruption and Political Interference

As Muay Thai prepares for its Olympic debut, Sri Lanka’s aspiring fighters are being forced to the sidelines after the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) suspended the Sri Lanka Muaythai Federation (SLMTF), citing corruption, political interference, and governance violations.

The suspension prevents Sri Lankan athletes from competing in future international events, including Olympic qualifiers, stripping them of a golden opportunity to represent their country on the world stage.

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2021, Muay Thai featured as a demonstration sport in Paris 2024 and is strongly tipped for full medal status at Los Angeles 2028. But while the sport is moving towards Olympic glory, Sri Lanka is trapped in internal turmoil.

At the center of the crisis is Ashoka Jayarathne, former president of the SLMTF and IFMA’s recognized representative for Sri Lanka. Jayarathne alleges that high-ranking officials, police, naval officers, and former sports ministers orchestrated a campaign of intimidation, defamation, and fabricated documents to oust him. He claims to have faced threats to his life and unlawful detention, findings corroborated by IFMA investigations.

Despite this, Sri Lanka’s sports authorities have failed to act. Meanwhile, the current SLMTF leadership—President Dilan Peiris and Vice President Lal Weerasinghe—are accused of unlawfully seizing control of the federation with the backing of political allies, including former Deputy Sports Minister Rohana Dissanayake.

IFMA insists it will only recognize the federation under Jayarathne’s presidency, declaring the current officials non-compliant with Sri Lanka’s Sports Act. Critics argue that the present leadership maintains a monopoly over the sport while undermining athletes’ futures.

The consequences are severe: Sri Lanka missed the 2024 IFMA Senior World Championships in Greece, denying fighters crucial exposure, and risks exclusion from the 2025 Youth World Championships. Allegations of manipulated elections, fake clubs, and the exclusion of legitimate stakeholders from the 2025 AGM have only deepened the crisis.

In a July 2024 email, IFMA Secretary General Stephan Fox proposed that Sri Lankan gyms register under a neutral flag, with Jayarathne as head of delegation—a rare measure meant to shield youth athletes from political fallout.

For now, Sri Lankan athletes cannot compete in qualifiers, access international funding, or gain global rankings. What should have been a historic breakthrough for the nation’s martial artists has instead become a sobering tale of corruption, mismanagement, and lost opportunity.