As Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been served with a timed-out notice, former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe who led the crusade against abuse and exploitation in cricket administration has been joined by Sports Minister Harini Amarasuriya who is also the new Prime Minister at a time a high profile Recommendation against corruption in cricket has gone ‘missing’.
The Recommendation referred to a complete clean-up at SLC in the form of an Investigative Report compiled by three former Ministers in 2023 and now claimed to be last in the hands of former Sports Minister Harin Fernando who could shed more light on what happened after it was approved by the Cabinet of the previous government.
“We will take action (against cricket corruption) at the highest level and I know there is a big problem with cricket”, said Premier Amarasuriya who will rule on sports until a new Parliament is installed in six weeks time.
Former Sports Minister Ranasinghe was at the threshold of striking out corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket once and for all in 2023 with the entire backing of Parliament following public protests to clean-up a free-for-all establishment running the sport’s affairs when he was shockingly sacked by President Ranil Wickremasinghe who in turn suffered a crushing election defeat last week.
“I offer my best wishes to Anura Kumara Dissanayake who has been elected as the new President. He takes up position at a very challenging time and the expectations of 22 million people rests on his shoulders. I support him in all his endeavours”, said Ranasinghe.
President Dissanayake’s rallying outburst against corruption made him a cut above the rest in the juggernaut against the ruination and breakdown of morals and public responsibility.
The Recommendation for changes at corruption-ridden SLC was compiled by former Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry and two other Ministers that made up the Probe Panel.
Among other rulings and findings it calls for the drastic slashing of votes to elect cricket officials from a whopping 147 to the installation of a Cricket Committee comprising of former players and public officials with unblemished track records.
“Changes should ensure that cricket administration isn’t dominated by a few individuals who exploit resources for personal gain.
“The current (SLC) administration has misused resources as personal property which must be rectified”, Sabry told the Sunday Observer in an interview three months ago.
