Sports Minister accuses SLC of betraying country

Monday, 20 November 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe

Accuses SLC of seeking ban from ICC and thereby betraying SL
Exposes three communiques between SLC and ICC as proof of SLC urging for a ban to be imposed
Blames SLC and its Executive Board of misleading ICC
SLC claims contents of letters were misinterpreted and it was compelled to clarify its position

Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday accused Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of betraying the country for allegedly seeking a ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Holding a press conference in Colombo, the Minister exposed three communiques addressed to ICC Chairman Greg Barclay by SLC President Shammi Silva detailing Ranasinghe’s interference in decision-making processes of the organisation.

Ranasinghe accused the administrators of the SLC of attempting to remain in their positions despite audit reports revealing rampant fraud and corruption within the organisation.

Ranasinghe also slammed the SLC and said it has forced the ICC to suspend Sri Lanka from international cricket. Ranasinghe made this accusation referring to one letter allegedly sent by SLC to the ICC on 7 November 2023.

“Facts have been confirmed that the SLC President and the Executive Board have misled the ICC”, the Minister said.

However, issuing a statement today SLC refuted the allegations made in the Parliament recently regarding the communication between the SLC and the ICC.

The SLC said the contents of the letter were misinterpreted and that the SLC was compelled to clarify its position on the said matter.

“SLC, as a full member of the ICC, is duty-bound and obliged to adhere to the member obligations envisaged in the articles of association of the ICC. In doing so SLC is further obliged to keep the ICC informed of any difficulty and/or difficulties of adhering to such obligations.

With the appointment of Roshan Ranasinghe as the Minister of Sports, SLC has been experiencing continuous undue interference by the Hon. Minister in its governance and operational matters.

The interference by the Minister did make it difficult for SLC to manage its day-to-day affairs as envisaged in the said article, compelling the SLC to bring such interferences to the attention of ICC as SLC could not honour its obligations to comply with the said requirements envisaged in the article 2.4(D) of the ICC Articles”, the statement said.