COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s government has urged the executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to step down by this weekend, amid mounting public anger over allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the country’s richest sporting body.
A board official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an interim administration headed by former lawmaker and banker Eran Wickramaratne is expected to take over, acknowledging that the government was responding to public anger.
The move is expected to end the tenure of four-time cricket board president Shammi Silva, who has led the board for nearly eight years and faced repeated accusations of financial mismanagement, nepotism and abuse of power.
According to local media reports, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed Silva to resign as pressure grows from players, fans and anti-corruption campaigners demanding sweeping reforms at the board.
Sri Lanka Cricket has long faced criticism over governance issues. Multiple investigations, including reports by retired Supreme Court judges, the Auditor General and a Cabinet sub-committee led by former Justice Minister Ali Sabry, have called for major reforms within the institution.
The board also came under scrutiny after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the recent T20 World Cup, which the island co-hosted with India in February and March.
In November 2023, the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka’s membership, citing political interference in the running of the board. The suspension was lifted in January 2024 after assurances over governance.
Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe had previously clashed publicly with Silva, accusing the cricket chief of presiding over a corrupt system. The dispute eventually contributed to Ranasinghe’s removal from office under then President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
-Agence France-Presse/ENCL
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.