The approval of the President and Cabinet of Ministers is not required when appointing an Interim Committee, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe clarified.
Speaking to the media in Colombo, the Minister said, that some issues require the President and Cabinet’s approval, but the interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket has been appointed under the powers vested in him.
“During the Cabinet meeting discussions focused on the future amendments to the Cricket Constitution and obtaining the views of all the cricketers for the betterment of cricket. A Committee was appointed chaired by Minister Ali Sabry to address the current issues,” he said providing details of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Minister Roshan Ranasinghe further said he will continue to do his part until he holds the ministerial portfolio of Sports, adding that the President can remove him if he wants.
“These are people enjoying public money. If the President, Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police assist me, the entire SLC Committee will be in prison for at least 15 years,” he said.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe further revealed that he was ready to relinquish his ministerial portfolio to Cricket World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga if he can enter Parliament even via a National List seat of any political party.
“Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed as the head of the SLC Interim Committee as he has shown exemplary leadership in the past. He is a World Cup-winning captain, he stood by Muttaiha Muralitharan when he faced issues in the past, and he also built the next generation after his departure. That is leadership. A person like him is suitable to lead and build cricket,” the minister added.
His comments come after the Cabinet of Ministers chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday appointed a 4-member ministerial committee to investigate the future activities of Sri Lanka Cricket and the gazette notification issued for the appointment of the SLC Interim Committee members by the Sports Minister.
Earlier yesterday, it was reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was unaware of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s decision to appoint an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket.
During the meeting yesterday, the cabinet ministers reportedly discussed the matter extensively and decided to form a committee, chaired by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, to examine the future activities of Sri Lanka Cricket. (NewsWire)