Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-04-28 16:27:00
22 September 2023 10:23 pm - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The National Audit Office’s final report into Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its expenses related to the travel of players and officials to last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, has reignited the debate on if SLC should come under government oversight.
The final report comes weeks after SLC responded to observations in the draft audit report, which was leaked and made waves on mainstream and social media, that, among other findings, highlighted a massive expenditure of Rs. 68 million by SLC to send 14 of its officials to Australia for the T20 World Cup.
SLC has long argued that it is essentially a private entity with the money it receives belonging to its membership, and therefore it did not have to be accountable to the public, and by extension the government, for how it chose to spend its finances.
However, the National Audit Office has expressed a differing opinion, stating that, as SLC had fielded a team that represented the country, it could not deviate from the requirement of its activities being monitored by the government.
“As the institution engaged in prioritizing the use of the official brand and representation of the national team, paying attention to establish a legal environment where the essential requirement of performance of activities subject to Government monitoring cannot be deviated from,” the report, signed by the Auditor General WPC Wickramaratne recommended.
The auditor general also recommended that amendments should be made to the Sports Act “in order for the relevant annual reports to be presented to parliament thereby strengthening the control of Parliament over all of the national sports associations and authorizing such associations to be summoned to the Committees.”
The audit office also stressed that sports associations should avoid being involved in the obtaining of visas for parties that cannot be considered as persons proceeding abroad officially – ostensibly a recommendation stemming from the revelation that SLC had issued 37 letters to individuals not directly involved with SLC for their visa application process.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has shown a keenness to bring systematic changes to SLC, by way of introducing a new constitution.
SLC have conceded that constitutional reforms were necessary, but the Minister’s move to appoint a 10-member committee to draft a proposed new constitution was “illegal” and “interfered with the Constitution and due functioning of Sri Lanka Cricket.”
Last week, through the Court of Appeal SLC obtained an interim order that prevented the Minister from going ahead with the proposed new constitution.
(Shehan Daniel)
Dhusana Friday, 22 September 2023 10:45 PM
The present lot at SLC seem to be an unscruplous and crooked lot. Allegations they faced were never heard of before in the SLC.
Ruwan Friday, 22 September 2023 10:59 PM
Since the govt itself is veering away from doing business it's advisable to run the SLC as a private company. A private model can easily be adopted which includes outstation clubs too.
Jude Friday, 22 September 2023 11:45 PM
SLC hierarchy thinks they're above the law and they're not answerable to anyone or to the government!! Need not to say that SLC so powerful organization in this country yeah they can get Court injunction against the Minister, Huh!!
Jude Friday, 22 September 2023 11:47 PM
Court of appeal Judge got Free tickets to upcoming world Cup in India!???
A Silly Point Saturday, 23 September 2023 02:04 AM
SLC gets its money from ICC because it fields a SL Cricket Team representing Sri Lanka. SLC is NOT a private company. Executives should not be allowed to take their girlfriends, relatives, and friends on foreign trips funded by SLC money. SLC Executives are corrupt and make poor decisions. and as a result, the quality of SL Cricket is going down the hill bringing disrepute to this country. SLC Constitution MUST be re-drafted and fresh Elections must be held.
SLC recently wasted 5 million public money donating to Percy Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:38 PM
There is worse than that. Clearly the National Audit Office’s final report didn't cover the recent incident of Mohan Silva giving Rs. 5 Mln to Percy as a SLC Donation. SLC Executives has to be held accountable, as they are running organisation for public benefit. There uselessness of donating money to Percy instead of to worthier causes or not at all, shows why our cricket team is now failing. Our cricket team is country team, not SLC team.
Hora bookia Saturday, 23 September 2023 02:35 AM
No, let them carry on with their corrupt activities that will make the SL team at the same level as Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. In other words carry on what the bookia sumathipala started.
Uncle Paradise Saturday, 23 September 2023 05:23 AM
Is it because the govt has done such a tremendous job managing the country, getting rid of corruption, and increase transparency
Nimal Saturday, 23 September 2023 05:53 AM
Even if Sri Lanka Cricket comes under government purview the mass scale corruption will not end. In fact, it will worsen. In Sri Lanka state organizations are the most corrupt, reeking of corruption and fraud in all their activities. At present it looks as though corruption is in-built to state sector organizations and not anyone in control is the least bit concerned, not even the pin president as his name is also linked to the Central Bank heist.
Better run that way than by cricket club members Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:46 PM
It is better to run in a way where than can be accountability in some way, rather than how it is now.
Danny Saturday, 23 September 2023 09:24 AM
Now it runs like a family business, if Govt better but not the ideal solution specially a country like ours.
Premalal Perera Saturday, 23 September 2023 11:58 AM
Currently SLC is run by around five corrupt men, so why should it be increased by around 50 more?
National Cricket shoud be under government purview Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:45 PM
National cricket has to be brought under government purview. SLC can run private cricket for it's crooked membership. However, as the national team bring glory to the country and then relates to public it cannot be run by private membership.
Cricket, oh lovely cricket Saturday, 23 September 2023 02:38 PM
No. Cricket has nothing to do with Food,Shelter and Clothing. So, leave it in the private enterprise domain. Thanks for asking.
National and International cricket is about money, 100% it is public/goverment matter Saturday, 23 September 2023 05:41 PM
It is the money waste aspects of cricket that concerns the public. SLC is for now looking after matters of the National team, and gets funds based on the National Team. The national team is public interest/government interest. As such anything with money coming in for the country and spending related to the incoming funds in public interest.
SLC only exists because of Sri Lanka, has to be under government Sunday, 24 September 2023 10:53 AM
Any entity that is monopoly, relies on country to exist then it must be under government control. SLC relies on public being interested, and public has no choice about national cricket team but that under SLC. Public is made unhappiness with SLC poor management, and money waste.
Shaman Saturday, 23 September 2023 03:59 PM
SLC has to be kept as a private entity so that it can be efficient. Allowing government members will make the things worse. Government audit is not a full proof system. Entire county was robbed by Rajapakshas and what is the government audit do. They are capable of catching only small thefts.
SLC is sham entity, has to be made public accountable otherwise it brings shame Sunday, 24 September 2023 01:00 AM
Already it is sham entity frequently wasting many millions. SLC is causing our national team to go down the drain as well.
Ceylonese Sunday, 24 September 2023 05:37 AM
They say politics and sports don't mix. There are more important issues for Sri Lanka's politicians to worry about than cricket.
Sambo Sunday, 24 September 2023 08:50 AM
If we have a minister for sports then the CLC has and must come under the purview of the ministry. You cannot let the CLC go on spending sprees how and when they want. Kick all the over laguage out .
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
Is the situation in Sri Lanka so grim that locals harbour hope that they coul
26 Apr 2024
26 Apr 2024
