10–member independent panel to draft new Constitution for SL Cricket

Friday, 24 February 2023 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has appointed a ten-member independent panel of governance experts to submit a draft of the proposed new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket on or before the expiration of two months commencing 22 February.

The independent panel chaired by Justice KT Chitrasiri comprises Duminda Hulangamuwa, Dr. Ariththa Wickramanayake, Harsha Amarasekera, PC, Renuka Rowell, Deepthika Kulasena, Gayal Kalatuwawa, Hariguptha Rohanadeera, Charith Senanayake and Farveez Maharoof.

Two former Sri Lankan cricketers have also been incorporated into the panel Charith Senanayake and Farveez Maharoof.

The Minister in appointing the panel has said that the panel shall conduct necessary stakeholder inquiries and deliberations, impartially and objectively with the assistance, guide and advice of the Technical Committee of the ICC.

Further, he has said the appointment of the independent panel is in pursuant to the writ application bearing No. CA/460/2020 filed in the public interest by 12 former cricketers, administrators and prominent personalities seeking constitutional reforms in the controlling body for cricket in the country.

As the first respondent to the application, the Minister having considered the matters raised therein, and being of the considered view that Sri Lanka Cricket is in dire need of a new and updated constitution, which ensures good governance, transparency and accountability, and acting in the larger, national and public interest has taken the necessary steps to amend the Sports Law by a panel of experts which would cover cricket as well. Dinal Phillips, PC one of the petitioners in the case stated, “The Minister must be highly commended on this bold decision by him in the interest of the country and Sri Lanka Cricket. This subject has been brought up before, but only this Minister has taken a very keen interest and appointed one of our finest retired Supreme Court Judges KT Chitrasiri to head the panel.” (ST)