Sri Lanka cricket in trouble over election of office bearers

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lanka Cricket is under the spotlight once again as questions have emerged regarding it' election to name office bearers. The election to select office bearers for Sri Lanka Cricket was to be held on May 19. However, as objections were filed challenging the legality of the appointment of an Elections Committee, the Ministry of Sports decided to seek the advice of the Attorney General while also postponing the election. The Ministry of Sports called on Sri Lanka Cricket to appoint the Elections Committee at a general meeting and to hold the elections in accordance with the relevant regulations declared under the Sports Law. Thereby, Sri Lanka Cricket informed Sports Clubs that a general meeting would be convened on May 19 to appoint an Elections Committee. This Committee will oversee the entire election process from calling for nominations to the announcement of the results. However, nominations had been called by the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, since the calling for nominations should have been donw by the election committee an issue arises. Ideally the when the election committee is appointed they should call for nominations once again. The Minister of Sports sought the advice of the Attorney General as the nominations had previously been called during the existence of an Elections Committee which was appointed in violation of the Sports Law. The Ministry of Sports is yet to announce the Attorney General's legal interpretation to the media. If a free and fair election is to be expected, it is imperative that nominations are to be recalled through the new Elections Committee which will be appointed on May 19, and the election is held in a legal manner. But for this to materialize, it requires a minimum of 40 days as per the regulations of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973. Therefore, holding the election on May 31 bears several obstructions. As the term of the incumbent office bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket ends on May 31, it seems quite likely that Sri Lanka Cricket will function under an Interim Committee for a short period of time.

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Sri Lanka Cricket is under the spotlight once again as questions are emerging about if or not its elections to appoint office bearers will be held. Shaaheen Jurangpathy is in the studio with us today to explain the controversy. Elections for Sri Lanka Cricket were initially to be held on the 19th of this month. However as objections were filed challenging the legality of the appointment of an elections committee, the Ministry of Sports decided to seek the advice of the Attorney General. Therefore, the Ministry of Sports informed Sri Lanka Cricket to appoint the Elections Committee at a General Meeting and to hold the elections in accordance with the relevant regulations declared under the Sports Law. Thereby, Sri Lanka Cricket informed Sports Clubs that a General Meeting would be convened on the 19th to appoint an Elections Committee for the elections to appoint office bearers. The Elections Committee will oversee the entire election process from calling for nominations to the announcement of the results. However as nominations have been called by the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket and it clearly indicates in the new regulations that all election related activities have to be handled by the Elections Committee, nominations have to be recalled. The Minister of Sports sought the advice of the Attorney General as the nominations had previously been called during the existence of an Elections Committee which was appointed in violation of the Sports Law. However, the Sports Ministry is yet to announce the Attorney General' legal interpretation to the media. The process of calling for nominations down to the announcement of the results of elections for the National Olympic Committee, Football Federation, Netball Federation and Athletics Association, were all handled by an Elections Committee. So, if a free and fair election is to be expected, it is imperative that nominations are to be recalled through the new Elections Committee which will be appointed on the 19th, and the election is held in a legal manner. But for this to materialize, it requires a minimum of 40 days as per the regulations of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973. Therefore, holding the elections on the 31st of this month bears several obstructions. As the term of the incumbent office bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket ends on the 31st of this month, it seems quite likely that Sri Lanka Cricket will function under an Interim Committee for a short period of time.