Mixed reactions as Parliament argue on SLC issues
If the President can support me, I can assure you at least 10 administrators in sports bodies will be in jail - Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) came under heavy criticism in Parliament on Thursday with a section of ruling and opposition legislators calling for an administration change in light of financial and procedural irregularities during last year’s T20 World Cup while others cautioned against dissolving the board ahead of two crucial international assignments — the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Among those calling for change were JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, SJB Parliamentarian and former Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella, and MP Prasanna Ranatunga. Former Sports Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Namal Rajapaksa and Dayasiri Jayasekera were against the suggestion.
Parliament was debating SLC’s expenditure on sending a busload of officials–with all perks and benefits, issuing visa support letters to friends and relatives, and failing to follow procurement guidelines in the purchase of tickets. SJB Parliamentarian Hesha Withanage had moved a resolution on these alleged irregularities which were contained in a leaked draft of a Special Audit into Sri Lanka’s participation at the T20 World Cup last year in Australia.
Nearly all speakers, including the former Sports Ministers, agreed that the cricket constitution as well as the sports law must be changed to end the corruption and bureaucracy that’s widespread, not only within the four walls of Sri Lanka’s richest sports body, but all other sports associations. There was, however, no unanimity over dissolution of SLC.
SLC has been under this cloud for months, with interested parties doing everything in their power to dislodge the current administration removed and to grab power in the money-spinning body. But the Board has so far survived the pressure using various means including challenging sports regulations in courts and pushing its parent body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene.
The ICC opposes political interference in administration and there is now fear that an international ban could follow on “the goose that lays the golden eggs”.
But several legislators cited the example of India and said Sri Lanka could bring sanity into SLC by amending the country’s outdated sports law as well as SLC constitution which has allowed ‘paper clubs’ with voting rights to decide election results.
SLC received US$ 132 million during the eight-year cycle, 2016-2023, from ICC as part of its revenue distribution programme and also earns a substantial sum through TV rights and other sponsorships.
In his closing remarks, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said it was his priority to amend the legislation. “I did it and forwarded it to the Cabinet and then it was given to a committee headed by Sagala Ratnayake for further improvements,” he said.
“They were supposed to give their report within a month but it’s been around four months and I hope it will come soon”.
Ranasinghe said he had a blueprint for a new SLC constitution from a committee headed by Justice K.T. Chitrasiri that proposes to remove ‘paper clubs’ and create a fair playing field for everyone. SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne espoused a new constitution that would clean up SLC.
“We have a governance issue and what we need to correct it is to bring a new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket, to depoliticise and clean the cricket,” Wickramaratne told Parliament.
The National Audit Office is yet to submit the final report and Dayasiri Jayasekera, a former Sports Minister, questioned how a confidential report sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports became a public document.
Claiming he received threats from certain quarters to stop him from exposing SLC corruption, Ratnapura MP Withanage said that Rs. 67mn had been spent by the Board to send 14 people to Australia.
Minister Ranasinghe pleaded for President Ranil Wickremasinghe’s support to clean up the sport, saying there is deep-rooted corruption.
“If the President can support me, I can assure you at least 10 administrators in sports bodies will be in jail,” he said.
“We cannot let this happen to our sportsmen and women who toil hard to achieve greatness. I am appealing to the President to support me in this”.
Since assuming the portfolio, Minister Ranasinghe has taken a firm stand on corrupt sports bodies but his efforts are met with strong resistance with some even seeking legal redress while others hiding behind their parent bodies, crying political interferences.
“I have been pushed to the wall,” he complained, adding that he needs strong backing to clean the stable.
MPs Dayasiri Jayasekera and S.M. Marikkar advised the Minister to consult the respective international federations before bringing in new laws and regulations.
“When resolving problems, the minister should discuss it with the international body, if not they will ban us and that will impact the sportsmen and women,” Jayasekara urged.