Shammi Silva and Co. to continue as CA nullifies interim committee
The Court of Appeal terminated the consideration of the petition against the gazette notification issued by former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe to appoint an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after new Sports Minister Harin Fernando withdrew the said gazette. However, the Court of Appeal decided to allow the petitioners to reconvene their application in the event of an appointment of a fresh interim committee.
Former Minister Roshan Ranasinghe appointed a seven-member interim committee on November 6, 2023, citing widespread corruption and underwhelming performance of the national team at the recent World Cup in India.
The committee, headed by World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, included Retired Supreme Court Judge S. I. Imam, Retired Supreme Court Judge Rohini Marasinghe, Retired High Court Judge Irangani Perera, Arjuna Ranatunga (Chairman); Upali Dharmadasa, Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapakshe and Hisham Jamaldeen. However, SLC challenged the appointment and obtained an interim injunction against the new committee.
Minister Ranasinghe then filed a motion requesting the lifting of the stay order. In the meantime, President Ranil Wickremasinghe sacked Ranasinghe from all his portfolios and appointed his close ally Fernando as the Minister of Sports.
SLC remained suspended by ICC due to political interference, and many believe that the withdrawal of the gazette and the termination of the case may allow Sri Lanka to regain its full status with the ICC.