The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I move that at today’s Committee Stage of the Appropriation Bill 2025, in respect of Heads 149, 303, 194 and 219 relating to the two Ministries and their Departments and Institutions taken up today, Rs. 10 each be cut from all recurrent and capital programmes therein, as per tradition.

¶ 02 These two Ministries—especially Youth Affairs and Sports—must deliver for the country’s youth, schoolchildren and athletes. The public still cannot see an approach that inspires confidence. This Government has limited time and cannot correct all past wrongs, but at least it should demonstrate a clear direction. We did not want to waste House time; instead, we convened all sports associations on the 10th of this month at the Colombo Foundation Institute and discussed key issues. I will place some salient points on record.

¶ 03 On Youth Affairs: historically, chairs of the National Youth Services Council have often been political appointees serving political ends rather than the future of youth. The recent COPE exposure on the National Youth Services Council is welcome; political manipulation of youth institutions must end.

¶ 04 On graduate recruitment: I agree with the Prime Minister that recruitment must follow due process. However, during the election, many graduates were promised jobs for votes. Those promises created expectations; today those youth are on the streets.

¶ 05 On the National Youth Corps established by the 2002 Act to build discipline, leadership and employability and to channel youth into training and employment: we hear of standards and regulatory issues within it, and even calls from within to close it. If such is contemplated, what is the rationale?

¶ 06 On Sports Administration: Under the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, 73 sports associations are registered, but only 28 take part in the National Games. Why is there such a gap? Past Ministers failed to correct this; will the current Minister do differently?

¶ 07 On Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC): A national debate has raged. Elections are now set for 31 March. The Minister previously said, “We fear no one, we won’t bow to anyone; we have power and will use it; watch within a week or two.” Those weeks have passed; what has been done?

¶ 08 In the past, a Sports Minister was removed during Budget debates under pressure linked to cricket administrators close to the then leadership. The NPP policy promised to rapidly implement a reformed SLC constitution and the Chitrasiri Report. The public widely believes Sri Lanka Cricket has been captured and commercialized by vested interests. When there was an opportunity to remove the corrupt group “with one stroke of a pen,” silence prevailed. Either the present Minister is similarly constrained or pressure comes from higher up.

¶ 09 We fear a stratagem: allow Shammi Silva to win office on March 31 and then bring the Chitrasiri Report thereafter—an attempt to save both beard and curd. The public is not naïve.

¶ 10 In 2023, this House debated cricket for two days and resolved unanimously to regularize the Sports Law and SLC Constitution. Yet nothing moved. A Cabinet Subcommittee chaired then by Hon. Ali Sabry did principled work, but it stalled. A committee under former Supreme Court Justice Chitrasiri reported; it was handed to the then President in January 2024. Why has it not come to Parliament or Cabinet? When will it be tabled?

¶ 11 Current rankings: Tests – 6th; ODIs – 7th; T20Is – 8th. Administrators have focused on enmeshing political leaders—e.g., promises of stadia in Polonnaruwa remain overgrown.

¶ 12 I have concern that even Hon. Sunil Handunnetti is being enticed with a Matara cricket stadium around election time to aid SLC’s camp. I am not opposed to a Matara stadium or others, but current priorities must be grassroots facilities—e.g., at Narandeniya Central, Mulatiyana, Akurassa, Weligama, etc. Meanwhile, the Monaravila stadium in Ratnapura floods frequently; an ill-sited project wasted funds.

¶ 13 School cricket is the heart of our decline. Recently, the Under-13 DS Senanayake vs. Ambalangoda Devapathiraja final slated at Royal College ground was not covered overnight; rain forced a last-minute shift to Panadura at 1 p.m., disadvantaging rural children. Last year, Ambilipitiya President’s College also lost a fair chance due to poor umpiring at a local venue. School cricket is run by a crony who doubled as Royal College principal, school cricket head and SLC ExCo member, now at the Department of Examinations, yet still controlling school cricket. This networked capture must end.

¶ 14 Football: FIFA funding has been halted due to failure to submit audits for three years by the then officials. Even a former Minister’s relative has been implicated in reports previously raised in this House. Why the silence now? Our global football standing is near the bottom.

¶ 15 On illegal online betting: the President seeks Chinese assistance to curb it. I submit that cleaning up SLC and other bodies domestically will itself strike at the nexus; betting has ensnared many youth.

¶ 16 SLC’s recent constitutional maneuvers reduced the electorate from 147 votes to 60—on its face desirable, but engineered to entrench the same camp. District associations (22 votes) are often led by politicians. Many officials—147 reportedly on SLC payroll—serve the incumbent camp. When Ratnapura could not be “managed,” they moved its election to Colombo.

¶ 17 New eligibility clause 7(h).8 reportedly bars anyone from contesting unless they have held ExCo or special committee positions for two years within the last 15 years—locking out reformers like Roshan Mahanama and others and violating democratic principles.

¶ 18 Further, under Sports Law section 51(a), an “A” class association treasurer must be a Chartered Accountant. On 20.12.2023, SLC allegedly amended its constitution to allow a person who has attended an international conference to be treasurer in lieu of being a Chartered Accountant—akin to tailoring the law to suit an individual. This mirrors how a past constitutional change enabled a dual citizen to enter Parliament. Will the Minister reverse such amendments?

¶ 19 Under the Extraordinary Gazette of 03 May 2024, audited statements must be filed on time; SLC has reportedly not submitted to members or the Ministry. Clause 11.5.(4)(d)(iii) bars current ExCo members from contesting in the next election year if not compliant. We will go to court if needed. Clause 11.6 requires timely submission to the Auditor General; failure should bar the 2025–2027 election slated for 31.03.2025. I table the Gazette.

¶ 20 It has also emerged that a former IGP has been on SLC’s pay list at Rs. 150,000 per month plus 200 litres of fuel, a laptop and a mobile—approved by ExCo. If he was bribed, criminal law must apply equally to the giver and the taker. Allowing this camp to recontest would be indefensible.

¶ 21 The Ministry’s Appeals Committee has gone silent. For example, the Kalutara Sports Club’s appeal got a decision in two weeks from retired judges, but it remains unimplemented; a subsequent appeal has been pending seven months.

¶ 22 On other sports—motorsports, netball, archery, weightlifting—we won 13 medals in weightlifting recently, but neither the former nor current Minister has even commented. I table documents on karate, wrestling and football as well.

¶ 23 Finally, Hon. Minister: will you allow an ineligible group to contest? Secondly, there are widespread allegations against your Director General of Sports—of bias and issuing clearances to favoured groups. Reports say he has already signed the authorization enabling the controversial SLC treasurer. If so, even this Government’s promise of transparency has already been compromised.

¶ 24 Please act so that corrupt, plundering groups are not returned. We look forward to your accountable response today.