In a dramatic late-night development, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket has resigned en masse following an intense round of deliberations prompted by a request from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Sources confirmed that all members of the Executive Committee tendered their resignations, with the exception of chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe and the representative of the School Cricket Association, who holds a position on the committee by virtue of office. The national selection committee itself falls under the purview of the Minister of Sports, and was not directly impacted by the decision.
According to insiders, the turning point came when SLC President Shammi Silva addressed the committee and explained his decision to step down. He urged fellow members to follow suit in deference to the request made by the Head of State. However, the proposal was not met without resistance.
Several committee members reportedly questioned the basis of the President’s request, seeking formal clarification in writing before committing to such a significant decision. Concerns were raised over the absence of explicit grounds, with some members reluctant to proceed without documented justification.
Despite the pushback, Silva remained firm. Emphasising the importance of respecting the authority of the country’s leadership, he insisted that the request from President Dissanayake warranted compliance without unnecessary confrontation. He appealed to the committee to act collectively and avoid creating further controversy around the issue.
After prolonged discussions and internal debate, consensus was eventually reached. In a unified move, members agreed to resign and formally signed the resignation letter, bringing an abrupt end to the current administration.
An official announcement from Sri Lanka Cricket is expected imminently, which will clear the path for the Minister of Sports to appoint an interim body to oversee the affairs of the cash-rich sports body.
While several names have been informally suggested as potential interim leaders, no confirmation has been made. Among those widely speculated to step into a key role is Eran Wickramaratne, a prominent figure from the opposition, though officials have remained tight-lipped on any impending appointment.
As the dust settles, Sri Lanka Cricket now stands at yet another crossroads—its future direction hinging on decisions that will be made in the coming days.
