Sri Lanka govt takes over cricket board, appoints interim setup

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka government has taken control of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and appointed a nine-member interim administration to implement structural reforms, following longstanding concerns over corruption and mismanagement.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that all administrative functions of SLC would temporarily fall under its authority, marking a significant intervention in the country’s most financially powerful sporting body.

Former investment banker and opposition politician Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed to head the interim committee. The panel also includes prominent cricketing figures such as Kumar Sangakkara, Sidath Wettimuny, and Roshan Mahanama.

The move comes shortly after SLC president Shammi Silva and his entire committee resigned following government intervention.

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Authorities said the interim setup would focus on addressing governance issues and implementing reforms aimed at restoring transparency and accountability within the board.

The decision also revives concerns over potential conflict with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which had previously suspended Sri Lanka for two months during 2023-2024 over political interference in cricket administration.

The latest development follows Sri Lanka’s disappointing early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India earlier this year, further intensifying scrutiny over the management of the sport in the country.