Sri Lanka Cricket’s Transformation Committee has outlined an ambitious reform agenda covering governance, administration and cricket development, while confirming that work on a new constitution is in its final stages.
Addressing a media briefing, committee members said a working draft of the proposed constitution has already been completed and had received positive feedback from ICC Chairman Jay Shah during his recent visit to Colombo.
President’s Counsel Dinal Phillips, who is leading the constitutional reform process, dismissed reports suggesting that the International Cricket Council had imposed deadlines on Sri Lanka Cricket to complete reforms or hold elections.
“We gave our indicative timelines, but there was no discussion on deadlines or any pushback from the ICC,” Phillips said. “We are committed to ensuring a speedy process and will complete it in the shortest possible time.”
The committee also rejected claims that the ICC had issued formal communications demanding early elections, insisting that no such correspondence had been received.
The visit of ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia was described as constructive, with officials saying discussions were cordial and supportive of Sri Lanka’s reform process.
According to the committee, the new constitution will represent a significant shift from previous governance models and will incorporate best practices from leading cricketing nations such as England, Australia and South Africa.
One of the most notable proposals is a clause that would bar individuals who have been sanctioned by the ICC from holding office in Sri Lanka Cricket.
“We have extended the prohibition to people who have been banned by the ICC. They cannot hold any office in this place,” Phillips said.
The proposed structure will also introduce independent directors, in line with modern corporate governance standards. Future boards are expected to include a mix of elected and appointed members, with specialists in fields such as finance, marketing and information technology contributing to administration.
Term limits for office bearers and mandatory representation for women in leadership positions have also been included in the draft, although officials stressed that the document is still subject to legal scrutiny and approval processes.
Committee member Arjuna Ranatunga said the reform process has been guided by international expertise, noting that former ICC legal counsel David Becker has been engaged to provide advice throughout the drafting stage.
Public consultation was highlighted as a key component of the process, with stakeholders given three weeks to submit proposals and selected contributors invited to present their ideas in person.
Officials said they hope to finalise the draft in the coming weeks before it is submitted to the Attorney General’s Department and other relevant authorities for legal review.
On the cricket development front, the committee identified coaching, umpiring and ground preparation as priority areas requiring urgent attention.
Ranatunga said Sri Lanka’s rapid cricket expansion has placed pressure on existing systems, particularly coaching structures.
“We are struggling to keep pace with good coaching support,” he said, adding that coaching conferences and international exposure programmes are being planned.
Reviews of Under-19 programmes are already underway, with plans to strengthen grassroots pathways to ensure a consistent pipeline of talent for national teams.
Umpiring standards have also been identified as a key concern, with officials confirming improved remuneration packages and the planned appointment of dedicated umpires’ and coaching managers.
Ranatunga stressed that poor officiating can have long-term consequences on young players’ careers.
“Without quality umpires, you can’t develop this game. The discipline starts there,” he said.
Former ICC pitch consultant M.D. Atkinson has been engaged to assist in appointing a national curating manager who will oversee playing surfaces across all levels of Sri Lankan cricket.
The committee also announced new regulations governing player managers and agents for the first time in Sri Lanka Cricket’s history. All agents will now be required to register and undergo vetting before accreditation, with strict warnings issued against attempts to influence selectors or administrators.
The Jaffna stadium project was also reviewed, with officials acknowledging that the original plan for an international stadium and sports city is not financially viable at present. Instead, a more modest facility will be developed within existing constraints.
“We are committed to having a cricket ground in Jaffna, but we do not have the financial strength for a full international stadium,” officials said.
The committee further noted that while Sri Lanka Cricket remains financially stable in its operations, it lacks significant reserves for large-scale infrastructure development due to the absence of a long-term investment corpus from previous administrations.
The Lanka Premier League will continue as scheduled, with preparations for the 2026 edition underway and all five franchises confirmed.
Officials also confirmed that 18 legal cases filed against journalists and media organisations by previous administrations are being withdrawn, marking what they described as a move toward greater transparency.
With constitutional reforms nearing completion and multiple development initiatives already in motion, the committee said its objective remains the creation of a modern, professionally governed Sri Lanka Cricket structure for the future.
