The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi

¶ 01 Proper Programme to Develop and Free Cricket from Fraud and Corruption

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I move the following Adjournment Motion at a time when the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) election and the SLC AGM are matters of intense public debate, to place several matters before the nation:

¶ 03 - In recent years, Sri Lanka Cricket has suffered a severe decline. Once ODI and T20 World Champions, we failed even to qualify for the Super 8 at the last T20 World Cup and had to play a qualifier to enter the 2023 ODI World Cup. - Apart from a few limited successes, Sri Lanka lost many international series. Allegations have been made from many quarters that this stemmed from weaknesses in cricket administration, and audit reports from 2018 to 2022 have highlighted corruption and fraud at SLC. - In the two-day parliamentary debate in 2023, all Members unanimously resolved that the Sports Law and SLC Constitution should be amended to revive cricket. A Cabinet Subcommittee was appointed accordingly, and the Chitrasiri Committee drafted a new constitution for SLC and submitted it to the President.

¶ 04 Now, with the election date for SLC fixed, there is a risk that a corrupt group will again take control. Therefore, a proper programme must be prepared to implement the law against fraud and corruption, cleanse cricket administration, develop cricket at school and grassroots levels, and restore a winning pathway.

¶ 05 For context: on 14 December 2022, then Sports Minister Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, under Section 41 of the Sports Law, issued several regulations by Gazette. Commendable provisions included: - Limiting tenure of national sports federation presidents to a maximum of eight years; - Requiring the Treasurer to be a Chartered Accountant (member of CA Sri Lanka or Certified Management Accountants); - Disqualifying those over 70 from holding office.

¶ 06 SLC challenged these in the Court of Appeal (Case No. 98/2023), and an interim order under CAW 41/2023 was vacated based on a settlement. That settlement, in my view, was not fair: it effectively allowed the office-bearers elected at the 20 May 2023 AGM (the Shammi Silva group) to continue until 20 May 2025, while agreeing that the Minister’s new regulations would apply prospectively.

¶ 07 Subsequently, Minister Ranasinghe was removed. It is widely known that the main lobby behind his removal was led by the then SLC President’s clique. Their preferred candidate, Hon. Harin Fernando, was appointed Sports Minister with direct involvement of senior officials. Thereafter, on 3 May 2024, Gazette 2382/32 brought shameless regulations which effectively allowed the incumbent President, Shammi Silva, to serve up to eight more years as President and then hold another post for up to 16 years—essentially granting a lifetime in SLC administration. That Gazette, too, I table.

¶ 08 These new regulations are the basis on which the SLC election was called for 17 January 2025. All related documents and the Election Committee’s communications I table.

¶ 09 Under Section 41 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, all such regulations must be presented to Parliament for approval. Although the Gazette has been presented, it has not been approved. The decision now lies with the present Minister: will he enable this corrupt group to retake control?

¶ 10 Parliament has already taken a unanimous position, and with the Chitrasiri Committee Report and other sound proposals in your hands, Hon. Minister, urgent action must be taken to rescue cricket from bookies, fraud, and decay. With one stroke of the pen, you can suspend the unapproved Gazette and move to a new, clean framework, entrusting cricket to a suitable, transparent team—ideally to a young, capable, passionate individual not tainted by rackets or betting.

¶ 11 Further, on 20 December 2024, the SLC Constitution was amended reducing the voting power of sports clubs while, without proper oversight, allocating votes to 22 District Cricket Associations and four Provincial Associations. Of these 60 votes, 26 are controlled by the incumbent group’s loyal clubs. Many of these office-bearers receive monthly payments from SLC or Provincial Associations—Rs. 115,000, 160,000, 100,000, 260,000, etc. I table the list. Also, I table the letter dated 07.11.2023 by Additional Solicitor General Milinda Gunathilake, PC, calling for criminal investigations into certain matters.

¶ 12 Hon. Presiding Member, I will conclude. The Gazette now hangs in limbo. If the NPP Government were to approve this Gazette brought by Shammi Silva and allies of Ranil Wickremesinghe, then anyone who raises their hand for it would be in Shammi Silva’s pocket. Instead, create the environment to protect cricket and deny the corrupt control of SLC.

¶ 13 Finally, Hon. Minister, as far as I know, you are a Chartered Accountant. According to this document, SLC’s current Treasurer is not a Chartered Accountant; to my knowledge, he has not even done Commerce for A/L. He claims that attending an international conference of SLC is equivalent to the Chartered Accountant qualification. Minister, can attending a conference produce Chartered Accountants in this country? Please conduct a clean inquiry and take swift action, and inform the public of the steps you will take. Thank you.