Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa and Sports Minister Harin Fernando engaged in a heated exchange of words in Parliament today (Dec 13) over the latter’s recent actions concerning Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Addressing the Parliament, MP Sajith Premadasa said the move by the Sports Minister to revoke the Gazette issued on appointing an interim committee for SLC will return the operations to the current SLC administration which is accused of corruption.
He pointed out that this decision has been made at a time when several investigation reports have been handed over and a Parliamentary committee has been appointed to investigate the matter.
MP Premadasa further said that the Auditor General’s report has proven financial malpractices at the hands of the current SLC administration, while a joint proposal presented in Parliament calling for the SLC Office bearers to be removed had also been passed.
He also reminded the Sports Minister that South Africa and Pakistan are currently operating under Interim Committees.
The Opposition Leader reiterated that the sport of cricket cannot be taken forward with the involvement of the current SLC administration.
Responding to the Opposition Leader’s statement, Sports Minister Harin Fernando clarified that the International Cricket Council (ICC) operates differently regarding cricket administrations.
Reminding that the ICC has imposed a ban on Sri Lanka Cricket, Minister Harin Fernando said it can only be resolved via discussions with the ICC and not by making various statements in Parliament.
“The ICC has openly said that they will not accept the term interim. We have informed that based on the Chithrasiri report we will amend the sports law and thereafter bring changes to the cricket administration. It is pointless making this statement in Parliament if the ICC does not agree to it,” he explained.
The Sports Minister pointed out that creating an uproar in Parliament has only resulted in Sri Lanka losing its hosting rights for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, while the issues related to the SLC administration have multiplied.
He added that the only measure that can be taken at present is to amend the sports law and bring forth the necessary changes to clean up the mess related to the SLC. (NewsWire)
Cricket Crisis : Sports Minister Harin Fernando clashes with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa pic.twitter.com/lNl3lb6vnk
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) December 13, 2023
