Minister of Sports Harin Fernando yesterday (11) lit the touch paper and – in a very outspoken manner – insisted that self-styled experts and keyboard warriors on various social media platforms have become the bane of cricket in this country.

He said, following a few defeats here and there suffered by the national team, the social media pundits have emerged as the new analysts of cricket in Sri Lanka.

He said they continue to post their harangues which he said has been to the utter detriment of the game in Sri Lanka, but he nonchalantly dismissed such outbursts as politically motivated.

“Social media is the root cause for the ills plaguing cricket,” the Minister, without mincing his words, told reporters addressing a news conference.

It was connected to the ‘Smart Youth Exhibition’ 2024 event which is set to be held under the aegis of the President on 14 and 15 June at Galle.

“As long as this wayward social media culture is not monitored, it will be difficult to upgrade our sports or take it to the next level which we talk of so often. That is why I advised the team before they left for the US for the World Cup, not to be immersed in social media and concentrate on their game.”    

SJB, NPP challenged

Fernando emphasised that he had at no stage interfered with team selections ahead of the World Cup and challenged either the SJB or the NPP to churn out a better side than the current team if possible.

Expressing his personal view he stressed that there should be a total overhaul of the Sri Lanka T20 team following the World Cup and that it should compose of players aged 25 or below.

He then refuted allegations levelled at him for having allegedly extended the term of office bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by eight years.

He asserted in no uncertain terms, that he cannot and had not extended the term of the Ex-Co of the SLC, as erroneously reported by media and as alleged by certain Opposition politicians.

The Minister said that on 3 May this year, regulations were published in the Gazette No. 2382/32 dated 3/5/2024 with regard to all sports federations numbering 73 and averred that it was not solely confined to cricket.

The Minister pointed out that as most sports bodies are unable to find office bearers, the maximum term of office for President or Secretary has been set out as eight years.

The term of office for Ex-Co members, in any capacity, is a maximum period of 16 years, he opined, and maintained that the new regulations has also restricted the office bearers to one sports federation while describing previous regulations as ‘ambiguous’.

He affirmed that any federation can limit the term of office within those maximum terms in their respective constitutions.

Fernando, known for his close rapport with the President, also termed the charges directed at him on the issue by SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella on Monday (10) as the ‘ranting of a disgruntled old man’ and pitied the latter’s conduct and that of his predecessor Roshan Ranasinghe. 

The former Minister had criticised the aspect of discipline of the Sri Lanka team which is currently in the US and West Indies to contest the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

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The statement issued by the Media Unit of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs

“Any Federation must have an election in terms of the provisions of its constitution in electing office bearers. At present there is a Cabinet appointed Sub-Committee to draft a new constitution to SLC headed by K.T. Chithrasiri, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court. Once it is finalised the said draft will be submitted to the Cabinet for its approval. These regulations were published after months of consultations with the relevant stakeholders. Most of the Federations suggested that the term limits as set out earlier created an issue in grooming leadership. Earlier the term of office for a President was four years (reduced from eight) and it was eight years for Ex Co members. These regulations have been challenged in Court. The regulations apply to all levels (District and Provincial).”

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