Sanath Jayasuriya Resigns from Sri Lanka Cricket High Performance Role
Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has resigned from his position as Consultant to Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre, with effect from the end of this month.
In a letter addressed to the newly appointed Cricket Transformation Committee, Jayasuriya explained that concerns had been raised by certain members regarding his appointment to the High Performance Centre while simultaneously serving as President of the Matara District Cricket Association, with questions over a possible conflict of interest.
Jayasuriya stated that he had accepted the role during a difficult phase for Sri Lanka Cricket not because he required employment, but because he was requested to assist the national setup at a challenging time.
Reflecting on his tenure as head coach, Jayasuriya recalled taking over when Sri Lanka cricket was struggling following the team’s failure to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy and a decline in performances across formats. He noted that few were willing to take up the responsibility at the time.
He said that together with his local coaching staff and players, the team managed to rebuild confidence and improve standards, recording notable series victories against India, New Zealand, West Indies and Australia during his tenure.
Jayasuriya also referred to Sri Lanka’s disappointing exit from the ICC T20 World Cup at the Super 8 stage, acknowledging that injuries to key players and several structural and personnel changes ahead of the tournament had disrupted plans and continuity. According to Jayasuriya, some of those decisions were beyond the control of the coaching staff.
Despite the setbacks, he said he accepted responsibility as head coach and subsequently stepped down from the role following the tournament.
Addressing concerns regarding his continued involvement with the Matara District Cricket Association, Jayasuriya said cricket development in Matara remained deeply personal to him as a player who emerged from the district system. He added that former cricketers should be encouraged to contribute to grassroots cricket and maintained that he did not personally view his dual roles as a conflict of interest.
However, Jayasuriya said that if the new administration considered the positions incompatible, he would rather continue serving cricket development in Matara than hold another official role within Sri Lanka Cricket.
He further stated that he did not wish to become a distraction to the work of the new administration and expressed hope that the Cricket Transformation Committee would succeed in restoring Sri Lanka Cricket to its former glory.
Jayasuriya concluded by saying that his support for Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lankan cricketers would continue regardless of whether he held an official position within the system.
