Sri Lanka Cricket which escaped an overhaul in 2023 over corruption charges raised in Parliament amid numerous public protests have finally admitted its failures and mismanagement and a disputed voting set up at what is said to have been an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday.
Eventually admitting to its failures and abuses which it could no longer conceal amid calls for change over the past four years, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) declared at the meeting that three Committees need to be set up to monitor its income and expenditure.
“In order to strengthen the transparency in financial management, the membership unanimously approved the establishment of the Audit Committee, Investment and Budget Committee, and Related Party Transactions Committee.
“SLC believes these constitutional amendments will foster a culture of professionalism, transparency and meritocracy, paving the way for the holistic growth of cricket in Sri Lanka,” SLC said in a media statement.
The media statement also claims it made a ruling to chop down the number of votes to elect its office-bearers from a despised 147 to 60 in an apparent reference to eliminating vote-buying that opponents said created a base for shady elements to creep into its administration.
“Among the notable changes, a substantial reduction in the total number of voting members from 147 to 60 has been introduced”, the media statement further said while also claiming that SLC will no longer shut its doors to public scrutiny.
“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to announce that its membership at an extraordinary general meeting approved significant amendments to the Constitution reaffirming its commitment to fostering good governance, transparency, inclusivity and efficiency in its management structure”, the media statement said.
An election of office-bears to SLC is scheduled to be held before the end of May 2025 under the supervision of retired Appeal Court judge Malanie Gunaratne.
Crusaders for change at SLC said they will adopt a wait-and-see approach to the new developments.
“We welcome the amendments for change, but we will not get carried away until we see the real changes take place”, said a former Sri Lanka player who was involved in SLC’s administration and quit the scene.
