Colts challenge tenure of SLC office-bearers

By Amindha de Alwis

The Colombo Colts Cricket Club, in its capacity as a controlling member of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has called into question whether the present office-bearers of SLC are “legally entitled to hold office or exercise the powers of the office anymore” citing that the office-bearers who were elected on February 21, 2019 would have seen their two-year tenure lapse on February 20 of this year.

In a letter addressed to Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa, the club voiced their concerns that SLC “may not be able to lawfully function as the term of the Office Bearers are ended and the next election would not take place until May 20, 2021.”

The letter goes on to request the Minister to “exercise your discretion vested under Section 32 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and suspend the registration of Sri Lanka Cricket up until the election is concluded in May 2021 and until then under the powers vested under Section 33 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, appoint an interim committee to carry out the duties and functions of Sri Lanka Cricket and thereby ensure the smooth and lawful functioning of Sri Lanka Cricket.”

Secretary of SLC Mohan de Silva, however, when queried regarding the matter, stated that SLC do not foresee any issues with the continued functioning of their present office-bearers saying the officials only assumed their duties in May 2019 despite the election itself having been held three months prior.

“We do not foresee any problems. According to the sports law and regulations, and according to our lawyers, we are able to continue till the end of May, which is May 31,” de Silva said.

He also added that while SLC was aware of the contents of the letter addressed to the Minister and dated February 20, 2021, they had not received any communication regarding the matter from the Ministry itself.