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Last Updated : 2024-05-11 14:01:00
24 August 2023 09:50 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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)
Danny Thursday, 24 August 2023 10:15 PM
Rogue SLC committee should be put behind bars,
Peminda Thursday, 24 August 2023 10:19 PM
Either Dayasiri Jaysekera does not understand or appreciate the root causes of the problem or is just playing to the gallery. He should go back an analyse since when SLC set motion on its slippery slope.
Jude Thursday, 24 August 2023 10:44 PM
Good move!!
Jude Thursday, 24 August 2023 10:45 PM
New SLC constitution should restrict unwanted people getting the plum Jobs!!
Redflame Thursday, 24 August 2023 11:18 PM
As mentioned by AKD, SLC is under control of a mafia gang. Minister should expose these wrong doing to ICC and bring new legislation to clean up SLC. Gentlemen like Sidath Wettamuny, Roshan Mahanama, Marven Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva should be in this board.
Varuna Friday, 25 August 2023 09:52 AM
Agreed. Too many greedy businessmen have been attracted and drawn into the SLC over the years. The rot started to set in then.
Too much corruption because of Lanka consituation problem Friday, 25 August 2023 11:36 AM
Rot is of Sri Lankan heritage and culture. No law can break the cycle until religion and other cultural artifacts are removed from the constitution to bring it into the 21st century. Ranil's mind is from last century, or even worse times, and so the latest amendment to the constitution he wanted put in just worsened it. The latest one is as bad as the one India forced in by way of holding country hostage such that 2/3 majority of parliament just agreed. Same happened when last amendment was done. Utter disgrace. There was to be a fresh vote for parliament before they can use the 2/3 majority to approve any further change to constitution.
joshua Friday, 25 August 2023 08:58 AM
I thought you benefitted from SLC as they accommodated your loved ones on trips? Before anything else the political interference should stop.
wsw Friday, 25 August 2023 09:21 AM
SLC office bearers guilty of malpractices, should be taken to task and compelled to face, the full force of the law. That will deter any future aspirants who intend infiltrating, for obvious reasons.
Rishan Friday, 25 August 2023 09:42 AM
Wait till the Asia Cup is over. Otherwise, we may lose hosting the Asia Cup Finals too for political interference for SLC.
Bad attitude to put money before good behaviour that satisfies public Friday, 25 August 2023 11:32 AM
What value hosting a cup when the public are most distraught. It is like telling parent of child being molested by teacher o wait until end of Year 5 scholarship to take action, in case the continually abused child does worse in the exam.
Silly Mid On Friday, 25 August 2023 10:50 AM
SLC is the most corrupt and mismanaged cricket board in the world. But we need a Minister who is strong to deal with SLC and also MPs in both the Government and the Opposition who will not play party politics and give their support to have a clean and well-managed cricket board.
The will of the SLC must be broken and bought back under public control Friday, 25 August 2023 11:31 AM
SLC officials are willfully causing much losses to benefit themselves, and causing anguish to the public with their flagrant disregard to terrible showing of their blatant wrongdoings. Only one entity can is worst in living memory the Central Bank and their conflict of interest driven control of the public's EPF. So, while SLC is bad, risk taken by parliament to bring it under control seems fair. However, Parliament itself presents itself as powerless against the wickedness of the CentralBank against the EPF, because actually the Parliament and President completely support the Central Bank in it's wrongdoing against the public by capping the interest rate available to the public's EPF. At least public can have some solace about SLC being broken off it's elected officials corrupt control, but who can safe the EPF? Why not more brains and interest about EPF suffering?
Do Doo Dooo Chin Friday, 25 August 2023 12:36 PM
Ranasinghe do you know what is constriction?
A.N.K. Amarasinghe [Attorney-at-Law] Friday, 25 August 2023 12:44 PM
Mr. Roshan Ranasinghe, recently you have purchased a house in Colombo. 7 for 8.6 billion. From where this money came? Don't behave like a baba Mr. Sports minister.
Edie Saturday, 26 August 2023 05:44 AM
Get an inquiry on the SLC done asap and suspend The board. Constitution has to be changed and all members who have been on the board for more than 10 years should be band from competing for the next elections. Call for new elections immediately. CLEAN UP THE MESS BEFORE THIS CORRUPTION VIRUS START SPREADING TO THE OTHER SPORTS BODIES.
Cricket Enthusiast Saturday, 26 August 2023 03:59 PM
There was much noise made about irregularities by SLC during the last Cricket World Cup . The noise seems to have died down. Is it because everything has been swept under the carpet ?
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