SLC seeks President’s intervention to uplift ICC suspension

Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva (second from right) addressing the media, SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadde, SLC Vice President Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, and SLC Acting Secretary Chryshantha Kapuwatte are also present

• SLC, Sports Minister relationship soured after request for Rs. 4.2 m was turned down – Shammi
• We had good rapport with the Minister until Ranatunga was appointed Chairman of Sports Council – Act Secy

In a startling revelation, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva said that the relationship between SLC and the Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe deteriorated after a request by the Minister to grant him Rs. 4.2 million from the SLC funds was turned down.

“About five months ago the Sports Minister sent us a letter asking for 20% of our profits, that is Rs. 4.2 million. We said we cannot give it because this is money given to us by the ICC to develop our cricket,” said Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva at a press conference held at the SLC headquarters to apprise the media of the recent turn of events that has resulted in the ICC suspending SLC.

“It was after this request was turned down that the Sports Minister got angry and started to harass SLC accusing us as rogues, corrupt and drug dealers. I can assure that none of my committee members are like that.”

Silva said the ICC was to suspend SLC as early as May, but he had asked to defer it seeking more time to resolve the issues.  

“The ICC came to Sri Lanka to inquire about the political interference by the Government five months ago. Imran Khawaja, the ICC representative, met the President and the Sports Minister and told them that the ICC would take drastic action if there is any Government interference with SLC.”

“After that I attended the ICC meeting in July and in their report, they had said that SLC is being politically abused and they wanted to suspend us. I asked for time to resolve the issues. But subsequent to that the Sports Minister tried to bring in an interim committee and tried harassing us with various accusations, which eventually led to the suspension. The Minister must take full responsibility for the suspension.”

“My main concern is not losing matches but the accusations that are cast at us that we are rogues. We have not tried to swindle money or done anything wrong. There is the police and the courts to mete out justice. We have never had such interference with SLC before that is why the ICC took this decision.”

Silva also revealed that SLC gave the Minister Rs. 290 million to help finance other sports but when the auditors wanted to know what happened to the money, the Minister never replied to the several reminders that were sent to him.

“We didn’t get a reply from him because he had used it for his personal use to send his kith and kin abroad and for his lawyer’s fees,” alleged Silva.

Silva said because of one man’s action, Sri Lanka had lost the opportunity of hosting the annual ICC meeting where over 120 countries would have attended.

He also stated that the ICC Under-19 World Cup which Sri Lanka are to host in January was also in danger of being taken away from them due to the suspension as well as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 (which Sri Lanka will be co-host with India) and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2027 which Sri Lanka are to host.  

“The ICC has clearly stated that to hold these events in Sri Lanka they will need the assurance of the Government, otherwise they cannot hold it,” said Silva.

“With the current suspension of SLC the annual ICC meeting has been taken away from us. The Under-19 World Cup I am not certain whether they will hold it in Sri Lanka because a lady who had come to survey the arrangements was called back by the ICC immediately. She was to return next Friday.”

“If the ICC does not lift the suspension, we will lose around $ 50 million next year. Likewise, our Under-19 cricketers who have been playing the game from Under-13 level will be deprived of playing in a Under-19 World Cup because until the suspension is lifted Sri Lanka will not be able to participate at any international events.”

Silva also revealed how the Minister had interfered with selections for the World Cup.

“We included Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga in the squad, but the Minister wanted them out. We brought Chameera in hoping to play him after the first few matches and similarly for Hasaranga to postpone his surgery and play a few games. For example, Kane Williamson and Travis Head were both included in the squads while recovering from injuries and they later played. If this is not political interference, what is?”

Silva said that he is due to attend the next ICC meeting scheduled for 21 November and before that he wants to speak to the President.

“The Government has to give an assurance that there won’t be any political interference with the running of cricket in the country. The President has to intervene and do it, otherwise this won’t work and the suspension will continue. Only Zimbabwe had been similarly suspended. We want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and improve the stand of cricket in the country.”

SLC Acting Secretary Chrishantha Kapuwatte stated: “I don’t know whether it is because of the country’s misfortune that after Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed Chairman of the National Sports Council within a month, we saw the Sports Minister change his stance with SLC. The Sports Minister gave his support to him and from then onwards we had a tug-of-war between SLC and the Sports Minister. A lot of obstacles were put in our way to stop us from carrying out our day-to-day activities smoothly. Our time in cricket was turned to defending ourselves in court because of the various allegations that were brought against us by the Minister.”

“We have spent Rs. 30-40 million unnecessarily on court cases for the past one and a half years trying to defend the Minister’s accusations brought against SLC. When the Minister uses Parliament privileges to cast allegations against us the only way we can defend ourselves is through a court of law.”

“We request the Minister to stop this witch-hunt against us to try and gain political advantage, and come and speak to us straight. We don’t have people who hide and speak in the SLC. We are prepared to come out in the open and have a dialogue. If we have done anything wrong expose it and use the law of the land to bring those responsible to book.”