Colombo (LNW): In the midst of the recent disagreement between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe regarding the appointment of an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Cabinet has taken a decisive step by mandating that any forthcoming appointments of interim committees for SLC must obtain prior Cabinet approval.
Previously, the Sports Minister unilaterally appointed an interim committee, headed by former cricketer Arjuna Ranathunga, for SLC.
However, the President expressed his dissatisfaction at not being consulted before the appointment, instructing the Sports Minister to annul the gazette issued for the interim committee.
Simultaneously, the President’s Media Division (PMD) announced that Wickremesinghe has delegated authority to the Ministerial Sub-Committee, led by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, to make decisions regarding the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership in the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In response to the developments, last week, the Cabinet decided to establish a four-member Cabinet sub-committee tasked with scrutinising the gazette issued by the Sports Minister.
The gazette had not only appointed an Interim Committee for SLC but also suspended the previous board and future activities of SLC.
Sri Lanka’s ICC membership has been suspended as of November 10, citing government interference in the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Ranasinghe denied the the PMD report, stressing that there were no discussions or Cabinet directives regarding future appointments to interim committees.
