The Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage – Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the motion by Hon. Hesha Withanage is timely. The whole country is discussing Sri Lanka Cricket. As a ministry, we have 74 registered sports federations. I met all their heads and pledged to address their issues; what matters to us is winning in sport, not who is president or secretary. We then met each federation individually, including SLC, at the Ministry—let me stress, I have not gone to any federation headquarters; all discussions are at the Ministry.

¶ 02 Across sports with money, we see many problems: litigation, tussles over positions, and allegations of corruption. When I assumed office, the Ministry was like a battlefield—some federations suspended, some under ministry control. For example, there were cases involving the Cycling Federation, Netball, Rugby, and Automobile sports. Just two hours ago, we reached an agreement with the Cycling Federation to end cases and focus on sport.

¶ 03 How do we change the situation at SLC? We will not act under anyone’s sway. We are a government mandated by the people, with laws, regulations, and ethics, and we will proceed within that framework. International bodies have constitutions; we must align with them too.

¶ 04 Regarding the 3 May 2024 Gazette, understand that for it to be operative after we came to power, it needed Parliamentary approval. We did not rush it. We studied it, sought legal advice, and assigned a team to examine it. Within the next two weeks, you will know our definite course regarding that Gazette.

¶ 05 We have also discussed the Chitrasiri Report, and consulted many veteran cricketers. We are studying the report, the Sports Law, and the 3 May Gazette together, and in the next two to three weeks we will resolve this step by step to achieve the outcome the public expects.

¶ 06 Sport is a game; we are not pawns. We will not let anyone play games with our sports. The people gave us a mandate to change these conditions, and we will take all appropriate steps in this Parliament to lift sport to the highest level. Supporting your motion, I conclude. Thank you.

¶ 07 Parliament adjourned accordingly at 6.32 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Monday, 17th February, 2025, pursuant to the Resolution of Parliament of this Day.