The Government has rejected a newspaper report claiming that the International Cricket Council (ICC) warned Sri Lanka to hold Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections before July 31 or risk being blacklisted.
In a statement issued today, the President’s Media Division (PMD) described the report as “false and misleading,” stating that it had no factual basis and misrepresented the recent meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and ICC Chairman Jay Shah at the Presidential Secretariat.
According to the PMD, discussions between the President and the ICC Chairman focused on cricket development, grassroots and youth programmes, and expanding opportunities for young players. The Government said no ultimatum regarding SLC elections, blacklisting, or any similar demand was made during the meeting.
The PMD further noted that both President Dissanayake and Jay Shah had publicly commented on the meeting through social media, with neither mentioning election deadlines or threats of sanctions.
Meanwhile, according to reports Sri Lankan officials informed the ICC Chairman that their intention is to complete new constitutional reforms before conducting elections, believing that a fresh administration should inherit a governance framework capable of addressing many of the shortcomings that have affected the organisation over the years.
Officials described the meeting as cordial and constructive, adding that the ICC was provided with a comprehensive update on the progress made since the Transformation Committee assumed responsibility for cricket administration following the departure of the previous elected executive.
“Sri Lanka Cricket shared indicative timelines for the completion of the reform process and the return to governance by a duly elected administration in accordance with the applicable legal and constitutional framework,” SLC said in a statement following the meeting.
The Government has called for the newspaper report to be retracted and corrected.
The ICC has not officially commented on the matter. (Newswire)