No action against Sri Lanka Cricket till receipt of Auditor General’s report

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe told the Court of Appeal on Wednesday that he would not take any action on Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), until the Auditor General’s report on SLC is received.The Attorney General’s Department has advised the Minister of Sports to ask the National Audit Office to conduct a formal audit on the issues raised by an investigation report on incidents at the T20 men’s World Cup tournament, the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, representing the minister said.

He said that the Attorney General’s Department had written to the Ministry on January 27.The letter states that it is imperative that the Minister invokes the provisions of section 39(3) of the Sports Law No.25 of 1973, which empowers him to order all or any of the activities of councils, committees or associations and other bodies established under the Sports Law, to be investigated and reported on, by such person or persons, as he may specify.

It states that Sri Lanka Cricket too is such an organisation. The Attorney General’s Department will further advise the Minister on alleged misuse of funds or all related matters at Sri Lanka Cricket, once the report of the Auditor General is submitted.

The Minister then sought the advice of the secretary on future action, and the secretary too agreed that the directives of the Attorney General’s Department must be followed.

“It would be prudent for all matters pertaining to the financial affairs and financial management of Sri Lanka Cricket, to be elevated to the level of the Auditor General, in the larger interests of the sport of cricket in Sri Lanka, as well as in the greater public and national interest,” the secretary said.

The Minister then decided that he will refer the matters to the National Audit Office and to await the inquiry and report of the Auditor General before taking any action in law, against Sri Lanka Cricket, a national association functioning under the aegis of the National Sports Law and its provisions, the court was told.