SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
COLOMBO – The newly-formed SLC Interim Committee, under the guidance of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, is all set to dig deep into allegations of corruption that have plagued Sri Lanka Cricket. The committee is composed of two Retired Supreme Court Judges and one Retired High Court Judge, with the main goal of examining past irregularities within the sport, as declared by Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in a recent address.
Acting on the authority bestowed by the 1973 No. 25 Sports Act, the current Sri Lanka Cricket Board has been suspended, and an Interim Committee has been established. A special Gazette Notification issued by the Minister explains this significant change.
The decision to suspend the existing board follows the revelations in the 2020 Twenty20 World Cup special audit report. This report highlighted allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and neglect by the previous board, leading to the need for a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
Furthermore, the Minister indicated that the committee’s chairman would appoint specialized sub-committees to address crucial areas like administration, cricket development, and law within Sri Lanka Cricket.
In discussions with journalists, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe expressed confidence in the selection process, stating, “We need the right person for the right job to take on the challenges in cricket. I believe the public will agree that we’ve made the right choice for this role.”
The newly established Interim Committee includes seasoned cricket figure Upali Dharmadasa, a former President of SLC and brother of Jayantha Dharmadasa, the previous Board’s vice president. Minister Ranasinghe lauded Dharmadasa’s immense contributions to the sport, emphasizing the need for experienced and committed individuals to steer the sport forward.
