Sri Lanka Cricket Board Executive Committee Resigns Following Government Request

Kathmandu. A major political and institutional change has occurred in Sri Lanka's cricket administration, with the country's cricket board opening the way for new administration after its entire executive committee resigned at the government's request.

According to government officials, the government had urged the executive committee to step down with the aim of reforming the sports body and forming a new management. Following this, the board formally announced its resignation on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka Cricket, considered the country's wealthiest sports institution, has long been mired in allegations of corruption and mismanagement. It is said that the government has initiated a process of institutional reform against this backdrop.

According to a board official, President Shammi Silva convened a special meeting and announced the resignation of the entire committee. He has agreed to step down with 11 months remaining in his fourth two-year term.

The official, on condition of anonymity, informed AFP that preparations are underway to form an interim management team led by a former investment banker and opposition politician.

Meanwhile, a government official confirmed that Sri Lankan President Anura Kumar Disanayake met with President Silva over the weekend to discuss the new management structure. The meeting is said to have played a role in determining the board's future structure and reform process.

Sri Lanka is also under pressure in terms of sports performance. The country was eliminated in the preliminary stage of the T20 World Cup, co-hosted with India, failing to perform as expected.

Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had suspended Sri Lanka Cricket Board in November 2023, citing political interference. That suspension was lifted at the end of January 2024. Subsequently, the committee under Shammi Silva was re-established.

Silva was then elected president for a fourth term unopposed in the subsequent election. However, following recent developments and government intervention, the board now appears to be moving towards a completely new management.