Cricket crisis : Police security for SLC as Parliament debate begins

November 9, 2023 at 11:16 AM

The entry road to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) office in Colombo has been temporarily closed in anticipation of a protest.

Accordingly, Vidya Mawatha in Colombo 7 has been closed off at the Maitland Place end, in the vicinity of the Sri Lanka Cricket building.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary debate on SLC commenced today with Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa presenting a joint motion in Parliament.

MP Premadasa tabled a joint proposal for the dismissal of the SLC office-bearers, which was seconded on behalf of the governing party by MP Nimal Siripala de Silva.  

The motion is the joint stance of the party leaders that the Office Bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket should step down and a new Sports Act be passed.

The party leaders are reportedly of the view that new legislation for the cricket administration is required to maintain a corruption-free, transparent cricket governance.

It was decided during yesterday’s Party Leaders meeting to present a joint motion against the SLC in Parliament today.

Accordingly, a debate on the motion will be held from 09.30 am to 5.30 pm today after which it will be taken up for a vote this evening.

A motion has been presented in Parliament against the cricket administration following the escalating spat between Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and the SLC recently.

Based on the Auditor General’s report citing malpractices by the SLC in the recent past, the Sports Minister appointed an interim committee for SLC headed by former Sri Lanka cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga. However, the Court of Appeal temporarily suspended the functions of the interim committee. 

Following the court order, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe delivered a special statement in Parliament yesterday, where he launched a scathing attack on the judiciary over the recent judgement suspending the Gazette issued on the interim committee appointed for SLC.

The Sports Minister also accused the Attorney General of not supporting the ministry and acting in a way to protect corrupt Cricket officials. (NewsWire)