SLC on the verge of being cleansed; draft constitution gets Cabinet nod
The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved the draft constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and if passed in parliament, this blueprint prepared by a committee headed by Justice K.T. Chitrasiri will bring about significant reforms in the administration of SLC.
In an interview, President’s Counsel Mr. Dinal Philips who played a key role in pushing these reforms along with several others including cricketers Sidath Wettimuny, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kushil Gunasekera and Ana Punchihewa, highlighted their mission as petitioners to bring transparency and reform to SLC.
The initiative was spurred by concerns over mismanagement and corruption within the organisation. Mr. Philips has an extensive background in cricket administration, having led the Tamil Union management and legal consulting.
The formation of the Chitrasiri Committee originated from a case filed in 2020 against the then Minister of Sports, Namal Rajapaksa. The petitioners, including cricketing figures such as Michael Tissera, Sidath Wettimuny, and Muttiah Muralitharan, sought to implement a concept paper by the late Justice Prasanna Jayawardhana. This paper proposed a new governance structure for SLC to address issues of mismanagement and accountability.
According Mr. Phillips, a notable contributor to the committee’s work was an anonymous figure referred to as ‘Phantom’, who provided insights into global cricket administration practices. This input was instrumental in shaping the committee’s recommendations, which focused on creating a more transparent and accountable governance system for SLC.
The Chitrasiri Committee, composed of legal and cricketing experts, addressed all facets of cricket administration, from financial management to corporate governance. The committee’s recommendations included a governance structure, combining elected and nominated members, with a chief executive overseeing daily operations. This structure aims to bring in professionals with commercial, corporate, legal and financial expertise.
The committee’s formation coincided with significant political changes in Sri Lanka, including the ‘Aragalaya’ (Struggle) movement demanding systemic reforms. The support of then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and then Sports Council Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga was crucial in advancing the committee’s work. The final recommendations were reviewed by a cabinet subcommittee chaired by Foreign Minister Ali Sabri, whose understanding of the issues ensured that the recommendations were given due consideration.
The proposed changes represent a fundamental shift towards greater transparency and accountability in Sri Lankan cricket administration. If fully implemented, these reforms could set a new standard for sports governance in Sri Lanka and serve as a model for other sports organisations. The Justice Chitrasiri Committee’s work marks a significant step towards ensuring that Sri Lanka’s beloved sport is managed with fairness, transparency, and excellence.