The Ministry of Sports yesterday issued directives to Sri Lanka Cricket requesting the sports body to stick to the constitution.
The Executive Committee of SLC met Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake yesterday and the directives were given to SLC in writing. As an outcome, the many powers enjoyed by SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga will be drastically slashed with SLC President and CEO having a larger say.
Emphasis were given to six guidelines and the most striking one said, “The CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket Mr. Ashley De Silva will carry out his tasked duties namely of executing policy decisions made by the Board. He will also represent SLC at the CEO Conferences of the ICC.”
Ranatunga was the most powerful cricket official in the country and controlled cricket affairs with an iron fist with the blessings of the previous government. He represented SLC at ICC CEOs meetings and had total control over vital administrative aspects from marketing to operations.
Another directive said, “No member of the Board should have direct communications with overseas Cricket Board individuals,” providing a further blow to Ranatunga.
The Ministry will also probe into allegations of corruption.
“In keeping with important and broadly accepted principles of good governance by a legitimately elected board all major operational and policy decisions should be made by the Board and Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, President of the Board has the complete backing of the Minister and the Sports Ministry.”
SLC’s reputation has suffered in the last five years with former Minister of Sports C.B. Ratnayake calling SLC the third most corrupt institution in the country.
Addressing a media briefing yesterday, Minister Dissanayake said, “Cricket is a gentleman’s game and the officials should conduct themselves in a gentlemanly way.”
The Minister also said that he had given strict guidelines to stick to the SLC Constitution.
Elaborating on SLC CEO attending ICC CEO’s Conference, the Minister said, “It’s a CEO’s Conference, so the CEO should attend.”
The Minister also said claims by star batsman Kumar Sangakkara that he has been targeted by individuals within the board will be probed.
SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa, who was present during the media briefing, addressing journalists said that certain crucial decisions by SLC in recent times were made despite his vehement opposition.
Nishantha Ranatunga was brought into cricket administration in 2010 as Secretary to the Interim Committee headed by D.S. de Silva. The appointments were made after World Cup winning former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga was unceremoniously sacked as the President of Cricket Interim Committee.
