Sports Minister informs Parliament that President pressured him to remove Arjuna led committee

November 7, 2023 at 2:42 PM

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has alleged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe informed him to withdraw the newly appointed Interim Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Addressing the Parliament today, MP Ranasinghe said that the President had further said if the Interim Committee is not withdrawn, he would be taking over the Sports Law.

Minister Ranasinghe said, in response, he had informed the President to remove him from his ministerial portfolio and take any decision he pleases.

“I told the President that at no point will I suspend the interim committee, as the level of corruption by the SLC administration is beyond belief,” he said.

The Sports Minister further said the proposed Lanka T10, scheduled for December, was also riddled with corruption.

He revealed that the decision to appoint an interim committee for SLC was taken based on the recommendation made following the Auditor General’s report proving the financial malpractices of the cricket administration.

“It is two months since the Auditor General’s report has been handed over to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), but an investigation is yet to be launched. The Attorney General on the other hand wants me to appoint another interim committee to proceed with legal action,” he revealed in Parliament.

The Sports Minister further said he intends to make a special statement in Parliament tomorrow detailing the current state of the SLC and related issues.

He made the remarks in response to questions raised by several opposition MPs on the court order issued today suspending the functions of the interim committee for SLC appointed by him. (NewsWire)