A new constitution on the way for SLC
Sports Minister met the ICC CEO along with SLC and Ministry officials
With the objective of revamping cricket administration, Sports Minister Harin Fernando has appointed a five-member committee to draft a new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The development follows a proposal from the Cabinet subcommittee appointed by President Ranil Wickremasinghe to look into the issues currently faced by SLC in changing the existing constitution and structure of the SLC.
The primary objectives of the proposed changes are to ensure efficiency, transparency and good governance while redirecting funds towards the development of cricket, thereby breaking free from self-interest and favouritism, sources said.
The committee includes Kuvera de Zoysa, PC, Naveen Marapana, PC, and lawyers Chandimal Mendis and Panduka Keerthinanda alongside a counsel nominated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The committee is to submit their proposals to the ICC for review and recommendation before seeking SLC membership approval.
The Cabinet subcommitee report served as the catalyst for this transformation, emphasising the urgency of revisiting the constitutional framework governing Sri Lanka Cricket.
The prevailing sentiment is that the current structure may inadvertently favour a particular group, hindering professionals and technocrats from joining the administration. The subcommittee’s recommendations underscore the need for a comprehensive overhaul that addresses these concerns and paves the way for a more inclusive and transparent administration.
Led by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and including three other government ministers, the subcommittee called for a paradigm shift in the SLC’s leadership criteria. It advocates for enacting new laws that enable the inclusion of eminent and competent individuals with impeccable track records. This proposed shift towards meritocracy aims to elevate the quality of cricket administration, ensuring that those in leadership positions have a proven commitment to the sport’s welfare.
One of the key aspects highlighted by the subcommittee is the need to revisit the membership structure of the SLC. The existing composition which has 147 voting members has been criticised for allegedly granting undue advantages to a select few. The proposed changes aim to dismantle any stranglehold on membership, fostering a more open and democratic process that allows for a broader representation of cricketing expertise.
Sri Lanka, although one of the smallest full member countries of the ICC, holds the highest number of votes. This has raised concerns about the potential for vote-buying and corruption in the election of office-bearers.
In contrast, neighbouring India, with a population of over 1.4 billion, has only 38 votes. Australia, the largest cricket-playing ICC member by geographical area with a population of 26 million, holds the lowest number of votes at eight.
SLC remain suspended by ICC since November last year due to political interference in cricket administration. ICC CEO Geoff Allardice recently was in Colombo and met the sports minister, as well as the country’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Both have made a request to the ICC CEO to consider the removal of the suspension as early as possible.