Sri Lanka’s gymnastics fraternity has been left stunned by the sudden suspension of national coach and Olympian Ranjana Taranga, in what appears to be a move to protect a rival coach with powerful connections within the Sports Ministry.
On 20th of June Taranga received a suspension letter with no stated reason, and just three days later, he was transferred to the Bandaragama Sports Complex — a facility with no gymnastics apparatus. The decision came immediately after dates for the National Sports Festival were finalised, raising suspicions about its timing.
Parents and athletes have condemned the move. “This is a crime against sport,” said one parent. “A coach who produced Olympians is being paid to sit idle, while his athletes are abandoned.” For years, Taranga had been conducting systematic high-performance training at the Torrington Indoor Complex, the official base of Sri Lanka’s national pool. His removal has severely disrupted preparations for the Youth Olympics and World Championships later this year.
Although the Sports Ministry claimed the transfer was “temporary” and subject to inquiry, the official letter carried no such clause. Critics say the suspension was carried out without due process — no charges, no inquiry, and no show-cause notice.
At the centre of the controversy is another coach attached to the Sports Ministry, who reportedly stands to benefit from Taranga’s removal. This coach allegedly enjoys the protection of a senior official at the Department of Sports Development, whose son is a gymnast at Royal College — where the same ministry coach also receives payment while already on the government payroll.
This conflict of interest has angered parents and officials. Shockingly, the ministry coach has even promoted classes at the Royal MAS Arena on Tuesdays — despite the fact that Royal gymnasts have been training at Torrington’s national facility, which is strictly reserved for national pool athletes. The Royal MAS Arena itself has no gymnastics apparatus, yet the ministry has ignored the issue.
Sources allege that Sports Ministry officials have misled the Minister, who now risks being blamed when the truth comes out. “This is nothing but a conspiracy to deny national pool gymnasts their rightful coach,” said a senior official. “The Minister has been hoodwinked, and if he does not act now, the entire sport will pay the price.”
As the gymnastics community reels from the decision, concerns are growing that Sri Lanka’s international prospects could collapse. Unless transparency is restored and Taranga reinstated, both the athletes’ future and the credibility of sports governance face a devastating blow.
