SLC files writ petition against T20 World Cup committee report

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday (20) filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking an order quashing the report submitted by the inquiry panel headed by Retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, appointed by the Minister of Sport, to inquire into the allegations levelled against the national cricket team during the T20 World Cup 2022.
The petition had been filed on the basis that the contents of the said report supersede the mandate of the Committee.

Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena PC, appearing for the Sports Minister, informed the court that the Attorney General received the said report only on January 19, 2023, and thereby sought further instructions from the respondents. Subsequent to an undertaking given by the Attorney General, the Court directed that the prevailing status quo of SLCt be maintained until February 1, the next court date. The SLC was represented by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva.

The Sports Minister had appointed a five-member committee to investigate cricket-related matters, especially during the last T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.
The committee had made several recommendations, including regarding the alleged misuse of funds, the alleged influence of the “Born Again” sect on the Sri Lankan cricketers, the influence of social media, and action against cricketer Dhanushka Gunatilleke.