• First election under the amended constitution 

The acceptance of nominations for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for 2025, by the Election Committee formed to oversee it, ended yesterday (22) and the election of office bearers, is scheduled for 31 March.

The forthcoming SLC AGM, is set to be supervised by a five-member Election Committee, headed by retired President and Justice of the Court of Appeal Malanie Guneratne.

A noticeable feature in the upcoming election will be, it being held in adherence to the amended constitution of the SLC.

The faction led by incumbent SLC President Shammi Silva, is expected to run for office at the looming AGM. Current SLC Acting Secretary Krishantha Kapuwatte’s name has already been proposed for the said post by the faction-led by Silva, after the resignation of previous Secretary Mohan de Silva.

During the previous election of office bearers for the SLC held in 2023, Silva – also the current President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), was unanimously selected to the post of President, sans an election.

Following years of heated debate and discord in cricketing circles and among politicians, over the excessively large number of clubs some defunct, with voting rights at elections, the sport’s local controlling body, recently opted to amend its constitution.

In the wake of this amendment, the number of eligible clubs affiliated to Sri Lanka Cricket and with voting rights, were drastically trimmed from a staggering 147 to 60.

Hence, the impending AGM, will be the first to be held, after the introduction of this amendment to its much-maligned constitution.

Following a Special General Meeting (SGM) held under Silva last year, the SLC decided to strengthen the financial transparency of the game’s Maitland Place-based headquarters.

They also opted to establish committees to sectors such as audit, investments, and budget and related party transactions committee, following overwhelming approval of the membership at the SGM.

According to the SLC, the new voting structure is set to ensure that voting rights are determined solely based on the level of cricket played by each member club, with all qualified clubs and associations, being entitled to only one vote.

The SLC in a media release stated that it believes the recent constitutional amendments will foster a culture of professionalism, transparency, and meritocracy, paving the way for the growth of cricket in this country.    

Meanwhile, the Election Committee headed by retired Justice Guneratne, is set to announce the names of candidates, who will be vying for respective posts at the SLC AGM, shortly. 

(JK)