• Says Sports Law will be amended to resurrect cricket

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Hesha Withanage says that within a three-month span of the formation of a new government by his party, they will dissolve Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and wipe its slate clean via the formation of an Interim Committee.

Speaking to The Daily Morning Sports, the MP known for his forthright stance on the current parlous state of the game here, said that within a span of 90-days of the dissolution of the SLC, the SJB will introduce the necessary amendments to the country’s Sports Law.

He charged this will be done urgently to rid the SLC of its alleged corrupt officials and to prevent corruption gaining root in future at the Maitland Place-situated body. MP Withanage pointed out that once the requisite amendments are introduced, it will be tabled in Parliament for ratification.

Asked what course of action will be followed by a SJB-led Government in the event of a probable ban being imposed on Sri Lanka by the ICC over the creation of an Interim Committee, the MP asserted that they will have a coherent dialogue with them (ICC).

He explained that they will seek sufficient time from the world body to cleanse the SLC for the overall betterment of the game and its players.  

‘Exorcism’ of SLC demons

 The Opposition lawmaker said that the perceived threat of the country’s membership being suspended by the ICC in the event of the formation of an interim committee to oversee the SLC should not be taken seriously anymore.

The MP remarked that countries such as Afghanistan and USA Cricket were yet continuing to play international cricket despite being currently suspended by the Dubai-based sport’s world ruling body.

He insisted that despite whatever ban that is imposed on the country by the ICC, the SLC will need to be exorcised of its demons sooner than later or else he warned cricket will continue to nosedive further.

Withanage claimed that under a new regime helmed by his party leader Sajith Premadasa, the SLC will be rid of its corrupt elements once and for all and stressed that professionalism will be cultivated within the national cricket structure.

The MP claimed that under the SJB there will be no leeway for politicians to also be in the payroll of the SLC, which he described as a cash cow that has been to the detriment of the sport of this country rather than being a boon.

He added that if cricket in Sri Lanka is to undergo a sea change then whoever is entrusted the task of spearheading its administrative structure from Maitland Place, should not be under the thumb of the BCCI or its officials such as Jay Shah.

Withanage also predicted that till the tenure of current Sports Minister Harin Fernando is over, the latter will never table the K.T. Chithrasiri Committee report in Parliament as that would hasten the exit of Shammi Silva led-Ex-Co of the SLC.

Officials from the SLC were unavailable for comment over the issue when contacted by The Daily Morning Sports.