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Talk looming large was Sports Minister appointing an interim committee for cricket this week[/caption]
The hot topic going round the cricket circles here in Colombo, as sun set on Saturday (6), was that Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa is to appoint an interim committee on Monday (8) for cricket by ousting the existing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) executive committee, under President Shammi Silva.
The appointment was to be made, it is said, with the Auditor General’s intervention on cricket board’s recent accounts.
A key member of the SLC opposition camp, who is contesting the forthcoming SLC election, told The Sunday Morning Sports that he too believed in the news.
“We also got to know the news going round. We believe there can be such a development soon. The present SLC is unlawful. How much they try to justify themselves, their official term was over last month. They are simply lying. That alone can be a main reason to appoint an interim committee until the things are sorted out and election is held in the proper manner,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
“It is basically unlawful to overstay in the committee and further more, to take important decisions. They decided to appoint Tom Moody as the Cricket Director after their term was legally over.
“Their final audits too had been passed during the same period (after the term was “expired”). I don’t think the Auditor General will accept those accounts," he added.
Who could be the Chairman and the members of such an interim committee which is said to be appointed soon?
“If such a committee is to be appointed, I don’t think anybody who is contesting the ongoing SLC election will be appointed as its members. Sometimes the Minister might seek advice from the National Sports Council (of which former Sri Lanka Captains Mahela Jayawardene is the Head and Kumar Sangakkara is a member). It is an advisory committee to the Minister.
“We’ve got to know that even in the cricket board last week, this issue of the Minister appointing an interim committee next week (this week) had been deliberated,” he added, further confirming the reliability of the development on Saturday (6).
SLC’s views
Meanwhile current SLC top-brass official, who is also contesting the 20 May election, said the story cannot be true. Yet he added their opposition party in the next election is solely depending on such a move and they “can’t even think about an election” because “they will fail to take at least 15 votes (in the election)”.
"But when you look at the election process and the two-year term, and Sports Law, you will find out how many contradictions that they have. Why I’m saying that is because the Sports Law says it’s a four-year term. But in our Constitution, it’s two years.
"There is a whole process of election in the Sports Law. The finances have to be submitted by the 28th of February and they have to be signed by the existing office bearers.
"We were appointed on the 21st of February 2019 and by the 21st of February this year, our term has to be over. But the finances have to be made up to the 28th (of February). According to what they say, if our term is over by then, how can an election be held anyway.
"Now if, say we started the election process by last November and a new ex-co is appointed before February 21, will the new committee have to sign our accounts?" he questioned.
“Last time also, when an interim came in, they boxed on with some construction at the Sugathadasa without the approval of the authorities. Then after they were dissolved, they just packed up and went. That’s because they are not responsible for the stakeholders. If you are the Competent Authority of Sri Lanka Cricket, you are not answerable to the stakeholders. But we are," he said.
“In this context, I think what the Honourable Sports Minister can do is to extend the term of the existing office-bearers until May,” he added.
Talk looming large was Sports Minister appointing an interim committee for cricket this week[/caption]
The hot topic going round the cricket circles here in Colombo, as sun set on Saturday (6), was that Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa is to appoint an interim committee on Monday (8) for cricket by ousting the existing Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) executive committee, under President Shammi Silva.
The appointment was to be made, it is said, with the Auditor General’s intervention on cricket board’s recent accounts.
A key member of the SLC opposition camp, who is contesting the forthcoming SLC election, told The Sunday Morning Sports that he too believed in the news.
“We also got to know the news going round. We believe there can be such a development soon. The present SLC is unlawful. How much they try to justify themselves, their official term was over last month. They are simply lying. That alone can be a main reason to appoint an interim committee until the things are sorted out and election is held in the proper manner,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
“It is basically unlawful to overstay in the committee and further more, to take important decisions. They decided to appoint Tom Moody as the Cricket Director after their term was legally over.
“Their final audits too had been passed during the same period (after the term was “expired”). I don’t think the Auditor General will accept those accounts," he added.
Who could be the Chairman and the members of such an interim committee which is said to be appointed soon?
“If such a committee is to be appointed, I don’t think anybody who is contesting the ongoing SLC election will be appointed as its members. Sometimes the Minister might seek advice from the National Sports Council (of which former Sri Lanka Captains Mahela Jayawardene is the Head and Kumar Sangakkara is a member). It is an advisory committee to the Minister.
“We’ve got to know that even in the cricket board last week, this issue of the Minister appointing an interim committee next week (this week) had been deliberated,” he added, further confirming the reliability of the development on Saturday (6).
SLC’s views
Meanwhile current SLC top-brass official, who is also contesting the 20 May election, said the story cannot be true. Yet he added their opposition party in the next election is solely depending on such a move and they “can’t even think about an election” because “they will fail to take at least 15 votes (in the election)”.
"But when you look at the election process and the two-year term, and Sports Law, you will find out how many contradictions that they have. Why I’m saying that is because the Sports Law says it’s a four-year term. But in our Constitution, it’s two years.
"There is a whole process of election in the Sports Law. The finances have to be submitted by the 28th of February and they have to be signed by the existing office bearers.
"We were appointed on the 21st of February 2019 and by the 21st of February this year, our term has to be over. But the finances have to be made up to the 28th (of February). According to what they say, if our term is over by then, how can an election be held anyway.
"Now if, say we started the election process by last November and a new ex-co is appointed before February 21, will the new committee have to sign our accounts?" he questioned.
“Last time also, when an interim came in, they boxed on with some construction at the Sugathadasa without the approval of the authorities. Then after they were dissolved, they just packed up and went. That’s because they are not responsible for the stakeholders. If you are the Competent Authority of Sri Lanka Cricket, you are not answerable to the stakeholders. But we are," he said.
“In this context, I think what the Honourable Sports Minister can do is to extend the term of the existing office-bearers until May,” he added.