Sports Minister to push for new SLC constitution through parliament

Whilst claiming that he is under threat for trying to resolve issues pertaining to cricket in Sri Lanka, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe today said a new constitution will be introduced for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which will be given legal validity by Parliament.

The Minister made this remark in response to requests made by MPs to bring in a new constitution for SLC to be approved by Parliament during the adjournment debate which was moved by SJB MP Hesha Withanage.

“I am under in-direct threat for trying to resolve the issues pertaining to Sri Lankan cricket,” the Minister claimed. 

“A committee under former Supreme Court judge K. Chithrasiri is coming up with a new constitution for SLC. This committee has already recommended reducing the number of clubs which will have rights to elect a governing body for SLC,” the Minister said. 

“The committee has also proposed to give representation for players and coaches at SLC. Another proposal is to confine the clubs which have the voting rights to elect SLC officials to nine provinces.”

This was in response to a request made by MPs that inactive clubs also enjoy voting rights.

“One of the main issues with sports bodies is that they go and lodge complains with international bodies saying sports is being politicized whenever we try to take action against them,” he said.

MP Withnage said he too was under threats when he decided to move a debate on SLC in the House. 

“An effort was made to obtain a stay order in order to prevent the debate. This is because they were afraid that much would be uncovered at the debate. One person called me from Candara and threatened me,” he claimed whilst revealing that SLC has lost Rs 6 billion as a result of disparities in awarding broadcasting rights for cricket tournaments.

MP Namal Rajapaksa who was one time Sports Minister said he made a sincere effort to resolve issues pertaining to cricket by appointing a commission headed by Mahela Jayawardene to look into all sports. 

“We were looking at the broader picture by looking separately on leisure sports, competitive sports and on developing a sports economy. We held several tournaments and successfully held Lanka Premier League in 2021 despite the COVID pandemic,” he said.

MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage however cautioned that the Minister should be in dialogue with ICC before taking any action. 

“You must first talk to the ICC before bringing any legislation. One must also not go into the extent of appointing an interim committee as such a move would but Sri Lanka’s membership of ICC.. ICC is running the risk of getting banned,” he said.

“Sri Lanka’s rankings in cricket are alarming today. Accordingly, Sri Lanka is eighth in the T20 rankings, eighth in ODI rankings and eighth in Tests. Sri Lanka was second in ODIs, third in Test and was at the top slot in T20 rankings in 2014,” he added.

MP Eran Wickramaratne held a different opinion and said SLC should be put under an interim committee.

“Appoint an interim committee even for the sole purpose of introducing a new constitution for the SLC. We need to clean up Sri Lankan Cricket,” he said.

MP Dayasiri Jaysekera questioned as to how the debate could take place in the House based on an interim report issued by the Auditor General. 

“Auditor General is yet to come up with a complete report and it is unfair by SLC,” he said.

“Also I would like to propose that the Sports Minister should talks with the ICC before taking any action. However, a group of MPs are out to get an interim committee appointed to run cricket. Some MPs want the number of clubs which enjoy voting rights to elect SLC officer bearers reduced. This will help Colombo elite group to control SLC,” he added. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)