Sports Minister Harin Fernando stated that they would have no alternative but to appoint an interim committee if a stay order is given preventing the Sri Lanka Cricket elections from being held.
The elections are scheduled for February 21.
Two candidates contesting the forthcoming SLC elections Mohan de Silva and Ravin Wickremaratne had their nominations rejected by the Election Appeals Committee and have threatened taking legal action.
The Sports Minister commenting on the legal challenge attempted by Mohan de Silva and Ravin Wickramaratne said, “We don’t have any issue with them contesting but we have taken the decision based on the attorney general’s advice hence, I doubt they will be able to challenge the disqualification by the Election Appeals Committee or obtain a stay order against the SLC election during hearings relating to this decision.”
“The Sports Ministry will be represented by the AG, and if it comes to a stay order we will have to go for an Interim Committee, which I am entitled to appoint under Section 32 of the Sports Law,” Fernando said.
Speaking further the Minister stated that there are no current players involved in the anti-corruption report submitted by the ICC and added that they were planning to change the constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket through the parliament act and a cabinet paper to this effect will be submitted by next week.
“A plan has been prepared to change the SLC constitution. This was done after consulting players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muthiah Muralitharan and Sidath Wettimuny. I will be forwarding it to the Cabinet for approval next week, and then to Parliament,” said Minister Fernando.
“After it is passed in Parliament we can start working towards implementing the changes. I have sought advice in this matter from many quarters, disregarding party politics and divisions, and have even consulted the former Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara,” he said.
The Minister said that not only cricket but they need to change the system of all national sports bodies.
“National sports associations have become a family business for some people and it is like a kind of a mafia. Anybody who loves the sport should be able to come forward and contest for office,” he said.
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