AG advises MoS for a complete audit on SLC
Cricket in Sri Lanka -- passion for many, joy(ride) for some
The Attorney General’s (AG) Department has advised the Ministry of Sports to ask the government auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit on Sri Lanka Cricket’s World Cup expenditure before pressing for legal action.
Their opinion comes after Sports Ministry sought AG’s advice on the recommendation made by a six-member committee that investigated a litany of alleged wrongdoings among players, officials and associates during the T20 World Cup in Australia late last year.
The Sports Minister appointed a committee headed by Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena and included former Ministry Secretary Kingsley Fernando, retired DIG Sudath Nagahamulla, retired Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris, former cricketer Nalin de Alwis, and lawyer Shalini Roshana Fernando to conduct a proper investigation on the allegations.
The committee found enough ground to dissolve the SLC. A recommendation was made in the 63-page report to the Minister of Sports to exercise his powers under the Sports Law and regulations promulgated thereunder to suspend, cancel or reenergise SLC’s affiliation with the Ministry.
According to the report, SLC has spent over Rs.65 million to send 16 administrators–which included two paid employees and 14 Executive Committee members–on a joyride to watch the T20 World Cup despite instructions from the Sports Ministry to minimise costs. Although their travel is now being questioned, the Ministry had still earlier approved it.
Among those who went are President Shammi Silva, Secretary Mohan de Silva, Vice Presidents Jayantha Dharmadasa and Raveen Wickremaratne, Treasurer Lasantha Wickremasinghe, CEO Ashley de Silva, COO Jerome Jayaratne and Executive Committee members Sujeewa Godaliyadda, Cryshantha Kapuwatte, Janaka Pathirana, Thilak Waththuhewa, Samantha Dodanwela, Priyantha Algama, Bandula Dissanayake, Rear Admiral Nishantha de Silva and Nalin Aponsu.
Some travelled in an official capacity to attend various meetings held by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in conjunction with the World Cup but the majority were on a fully-paid holiday.
However, the report was challenged in courts. SLC President Shammi Silva and Secretary Mohan de Silva filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal to quash the report and the court directed that the status quo of SLC shall be maintained until the next hearing on February 1. Accordingly, the AG has refrained from giving their opinion on whether SLC should be dissolved or not.
A suspension of its membership by the Ministry may lead to other complications. On November 25, 2022, ICC’s Chief Executive Geoff Allardice, in an email to SLC President Shammi Silva, said that any governmental interference in its governance could lead to potential suspension of ICC membership, disqualification of the national team from ICC events, and the withdrawal of financial support.
“It should be made clear to all concerned that any investigation by the ICC could result in a range of potential actions being taken by the ICC against SLC. These could include a warning, the suspension of ICC membership, disqualification of the national team from ICC events, and the withdrawal of financial support (including distributions). Some of these actions could also see other members being released from their obligations to fulfill FTP (Future Tour Programmes) commitments with SLC (under the FTP Agreement),” the letter reads.