Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has appointed a nine-member interim ‘Transformation Committee’ for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), led by former Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Eran Wickramaratne.
The committee includes former national cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama, and Sidath Wettimuny.
It also features corporate figures Thushira Radella, Avanthi Colombage, and Prakash Schaffter, along with President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and Dinal Phillips.
"What we need right now is a cricket transformation committee, not just another interim committee. We look forward to this committee bringing the changes needed to make the Sri Lanka cricket team a match-winning, trophy-winning team again”
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage explains the mandate given to the Transformation Committee appointed to govern Sri Lanka Cricket following the resignation of the Shammi Silva-led administration
The 'Transformation Committee'
The 'Transformation Committee' is effectively an interim body that will govern SLC until elections are held and a new administration is appointed.
Unlike past interim committees focused solely on smooth transitions between elected office-bearers, this one has been tasked with implementing structural reforms at SLC.
The Minister stated there is no specific timeframe for the transition. The committee will first meet to draft a comprehensive plan before deciding on the duration of its tenure.
What reforms will be made to SLC?
While the Minister did not specify the reforms, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged in his election manifesto to introduce a “draft Constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket.”
This is likely the report prepared by the committee led by Justice K. T. Chitrasiri, appointed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to draft a new SLC constitution as a parliamentary act.
The report proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to address governance, transparency, and administrative efficiency.
The report recommended significant structural changes, including an 18-member Board of Directors elected for four-year terms to streamline administration.
It also recommended the separation of cricket management and general administrative duties to improve professionalism.
Among its key proposals were forming 12 specialized committees – covering audits, nominations, anti-corruption, and facilities – to curb conflicts of interest and boost transparency.
What has the ICC said?
The International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body for the sport, has yet to comment on these developments at SLC.
The ICC has consistently opposed government interference in member countries' cricket administrations.
The Sports Ministry would need to convince the ICC – if it hasn’t already – that the appointment of an interim transformation committee and planned reforms do not equate to government interference, or risk suspension and losing major ICC funding.
The report essentially proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to address governance, transparency, and administrative efficiency.
The report also recommended significant structural changes, including an 18-member Board of Directors to streamline administration, and a separation of cricket management and general administrative duties to improve professionalism.
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