Shirantha Peries, the incumbent president of National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) has being elected as the new assistant treasurer of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC).
He was elected uncontested after the NOC Election Committee rejected the nomination of Manoj Karunaratne, who was to contest with Peries for the position.
Peries has been an integral part of the NOC, as a member of one of its Sub Committees.
“It’s a great honour to become an office bearer of the NOC, one of the highest and respected sports entities in the country. It’s not just about being elected and the honour. It’s all about how willing and eager one is to contribute towards sports and its development. This is a greater responsibility,” Peries said.
Peries, a keen sportsman himself and one of the leading clay target shooters of the island, has contributed immensely to develop the Olympic shooting sport in Sri Lanka. Initially he created history by becoming the first from the civil society to be appointed as NSSF President, a position held by officials of the armed forces since its inception.
Though his initial approach in 2018 to contest for the position of Treasurer of the NOC failed, its incumbent president Suresh Subramaniam invited Peries to join the entity and make his contribution towards the development of sports. This was an invite Peries could not decline.