Moves to undermine cricket constitution of Justice Chithrasiri?

by Rex Clementine

A change of cricket governance structure has been mooted for some time now after several key stakeholders of the sport including former captain Michael Tissera and Test cricket’s leading wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan moved the court to look into the matter. After the court gave greenlight, gradual progress has been made to change the cricket structure and retired Supreme Court judge K.T. Chithrasiri drafted a new constitution to SLC.

The comprehensive constitution by Justice Chithrasiri would have brought in transparency to SLC and more importantly professionals would have been running the board. Another notable feature in the constitution was cutting down the number of votes drastically.

It was widely expected that through an Act of Parliament, the new constitution drafted by the retired judge would be passed. Both the government and opposition had agreed to support changes needed at SLC. It further received a boost when the Cabinet Sub Committee headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Sabry highlighted the need to bring in changes to the cricket administration.

However, the Sports Ministry has now claimed that a five-member committee has been appointed to draft a fresh constitution to SLC. This means death kneel to the constitution drafted by Justice Chithrasiri.

Some of the petitioners who had moved the court asking for change of governance structure at SLC told The Island that they feared the new panel has been put in place to draft a constitution ensuring those who are running SLC at present remained in power.

It has been also noted that among the five individuals appointed in the committee by the Sports Ministry to draft the new constitution, one individual is in the payroll of SLC.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Sabry’s comprehensive report had shown how the voting structure in Sri Lanka was designed to favour a certain section of individuals. It had also gone onto say that if there is resistance from SLC membership to introduce a new constitution, it should be done through by dissolving the board and appointing a Competent Authority.

A forensic audit conducted on SLC accounts had found several irregularities and malpractices. But SLC bigwigs have survived as they have powerful friends within the government.

Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, an ardent critic of the cricket establishment, ended up losing his job.

The government, although promised at that point to clean up the Augean stables, it could be a mere eyewash. Powerful government figures are very good at appointing committees, buy time and let the status quo continue.

However, there are those within the government who advocate change for cricket. The Foreign Minister is one of them.