SJB: New method should be adopted to elect SLC officials

By Saman Indrajith

The Cricekt Borad crisis cannot be sorted out without changing the method of electing office-bearers, says Chief Opposition Whip SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told parliament yesterday.

Participating in an adjournment debate on an Auditor General’s Department report on SLC officials participating in the Men’s T-20 world cup tournament in Australia last year, Kiriella said that there were 142 persons eligible for voting at Cricekt Board elections. “There are only 12 cricket clubs and some of them do not play cricket. These clubs have been formed for the purpose of obtaining their votes at the election or to

be used as a reason to consume liquor. In Australia there were only eight persons with voting rights.

“In India the number is 12 and in England it is 20. I checked this and found that every test playing nation has only fewer than 20 persons with voting rights to elect their cricket controlling bodies.

We have 142! We must change this method. We accept the KT Chitrasiri report to reform Sri Lanka Cricket. Veteran players Arjuna Rantunga, Aravinda Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardena too have approved it. We call on the Sports Minister to bring about the recommendations of the Chirtasiri report as a parliamentary act and promise that we will vote for it.