Shirantha Peiris throws his hat into the ring for NOC Presidency

STORY BY – HERBERT PERERA

A respected businessman, Sports Administrator and the present Vice President of National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Mr. Shirantha Peiris has announced his candidacy for President of the National Olympic Committee,, presenting a clear and practical mandate to strengthen governance, unify federations, and elevate Sri Lanka’s sporting performance on the international stage.

With over four decades of professional experience, Shirantha Peiris is the owner of Mega Pharma Group of Companies, a leading pharmaceutical enterprise with an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 6 billion. His career reflects strong operational discipline, financial stewardship, and the ability to build and lead institutions at scale. He holds two MBAs from the United Kingdom and the United States, further reinforcing his strategic and leadership foundation.

A Media Conference to announce his candidacy was held at the Lotus Tower in Colombo “Leadership, to me, is about building systems that work, not just making promises. It is about creating structures that deliver consistently and fairly he said.

Beyond business, Shirantha has made a lasting impact on Sri Lanka’s sporting ecosystem through both infrastructure development and sports administration. He has personally invested in developing and upgrading shooting ranges in Nuwara Eliya, Katukurunda and Payagala at the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo, bringing facilities up to international standards and expanding access to the sport.
In 2015, he became the first civilian President of the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka. Over the course of his tenure until 2025, the federation experienced significant growth, with participation increasing from approximately 200 athletes to over 7500 young participants. Under his leadership, there was a clear focus on youth development, resulting in athletes under 16 achieving national success and securing medals at Asian level competitions.

We proved that when you invest in structure, access and youth results will follow. That same approach can be applied across all sports in Sri Lanka he added.
Shirantha currently serves as Vice President of NOCSL and holds positions within international sporting bodies, including as an Executive Member of the Asian Shooting Federation as a Board Member supporting development initiatives with the International Shooting Sport Federation. He also serves as Chairman of Lotus Tower in Colombo, reflecting his ability to operate withing large scale national projects and work closely with Government stakeholders.

His journey in sport began at the age of 12,when he took up air rifle shooting under the guidance of his father. He later represented Sri Lanka at the SAF Shooting Games I 2000, winning a team silver and individual bronze medal, giving him first hand insight into the demands of International competition.
Announcing his candidacy, Peiris highlighted that Sri Lankan sport is at a defining moment, requiring stronger systems, greater unity and transparent governance.
His mandate focuses on building a National Olympic Committee that is united in purpose, transparent in operation, and fair in opportunity. Key priorities include quarterly visibility of decisions, an open book system for funding and sponsorship opportunities, merit based eligibility frameworks, stronger athlete protection mechanisms, and structured capability development for athletes and coaches.
He also proposes the introduction of a formal feedback mechanisms at Olympic House, improved accountability through defined roles and responsibilities, and closer collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Government of Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lankan sport does not lack talent. It lacks a system that brings that talent together, supports it consistently, and gives it a fair path to succeed,” he stressed.” This is about building an institution that unites, operates with integrity, and delivers results that the entire country can stand behind.” With unique combination of experience as a business leader, sports administrator, and national athlete, Shirantha Peries positions himself as a candidate focused on practical delivery, institutional strength, and long term impact