Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has entered a new and uncertain chapter following the appointment of an interim committee led by former parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne. The move comes in the wake of the resignation of SLC President Shammi Silva and his Executive Committee, amid mounting pressure and government intervention.
The restructuring committee, appointed by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, includes prominent cricketing figures such as Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama, and Sidath Wettimuny, alongside professionals from various fields. The government described the takeover as a temporary measure aimed at implementing “structural reforms” within the country’s richest sporting body.
Silva, who first assumed office in 2019 after succeeding Thilanga Sumathipala, held the presidency across four consecutive terms. His tenure, however, was frequently marred by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
With SLC’s administration now under the Ministry of Sports, attention turns to the broader implications. The International Cricket Council (ICC) maintains a strict stance against political interference, having previously suspended Sri Lanka in 2023 over similar concerns.
The latest developments follow Sri Lanka’s disappointing early exit from the T20 World Cup, intensifying calls for sweeping reforms in the game’s governance.
