The problem with Sri Lanka Cricket was too much political interference and the government must introduce a new constitution for that outfit, said SJB MP, Eran Wickramaratne addressing Parliament on the adjournment debate on Sri Lanka Cricket on Thursday (24.)
“Things are so bad that coaches have been asked to step down by politicians. So, we have a governance issue. We need to bring in a new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket to depoliticise and clean cricket,” Wickramaratne said.
SJB Parliamentarian Hesha Withana moved a resolution on the alleged irregularities in Sri Lanka Cricket involving the T-20 international competition held in Australia in 2022.
Wickramaratne added that over 140 clubs are making decisions at the SLC but most of the countries in the world have 6-14 clubs involved in decision-making.
“Sri Lanka Cricket is not a private organisation as claimed by certain officials of the cricket board. It is a national organisation.
We need to go by the ICC guiding principles of good conscious, equity, common sense and simplicity enabling every member to grow with greater transparency. Those who are in the cricket say “oh.. government mustn’t interfere, they are not accountable to anybody because this is a private organization.” It is not private in that sense” he said.
He said that Sri Lanka Cricket is owned by Sri Lankans and that is why MPs are asking questions about cricket.
“Since there is a lot of money involved with cricket there is political interference. Today I heard a former Sports Minister saying we must not have political interference in sports. If that is the case, should politicians hold positions in sports associations. If you really want to stop political interferencem let the professional handle it leaving behind the politicians involved in sports associations,” he said.
The SJB MP said in 2019, Harin Fernando, who was the then Sports Minister, asked all cricket coaches of national team to step down soon. Wickramaratne emphasized that politicians should not be involved in removing national coaches.
“One time coach Asanka Gurusinghe is reported saying there was an overwhelming political interference which hindered the development of cricket. He has worked under three different Sport Ministers and due to disappointment, he has left his stint with Sri Lanka Cricket as a coach. In the same manner, another outstanding cricketer Hathurusinghe, who was taken as a coach, has also made similar sentiments,” he said.