Board Admitted Failure, Fresh Start for SLC

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has said that the President of the Cricket Board and the office bearers appointed at the time have stepped down voluntarily after acknowledging their failure to rebuild cricket in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the matter, the Minister said the shortcomings of the previous administration became evident during the country’s last World Cup campaign. Taking these factors into account, the Cricket Board President and the relevant office bearers chose to resign, accepting responsibility for the state of the sport.

Minister Gamage said that following their resignation, he was required to appoint an oversight committee. The committee is headed by Eran Wickramaratne, described by the Minister as a capable administrator, a respected politician and a former cricketer.

In addition, eight other members have been appointed to the committee, including internationally renowned former cricketers Sidath Wettimuny, Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama. According to the Minister, the committee comprises experienced individuals with deep knowledge of the game.

Commenting on the political reaction to the committee’s appointment, Minister Gamage said the opposition appeared unsettled and had attempted to divert the discussion. He noted that the opposition had previously argued that Sri Lankan cricket had collapsed and could not be rebuilt under the existing Cricket Board. However, he said those voices were no longer part of that discussion and had now shifted to an entirely different debate.