Sri Lanka mulls options as ICC threatens to stop funds
The appointment of an interim body to run Sri Lankan cricket is in tune with laws governing the island nation, the country’s Sports Minister said on Friday.
The move came a day after the International Cricket Council decided to investigate possible ministerial interference following the Government’s decision last month to dissolve the SLC Board.
Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake appointed a nine-member interim committee, headed by former test opener Sidath Wettimuny, to run the sport from 1 April.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) failed to hold elections by 31 March as per laws governing sports associations in the country, and so prompted the Government to appoint the committee.
“Our sovereign law is paramount to all the other laws,” Dissanayake told Reuters, adding that he had not yet received any communication from the ICC, cricket’s global governing body.
“If that is conflicting with the ICC charter, then we will have to see what we are going to do” he said.
The ICC requires free and fair elections for office-bearers who sit on member boards.
After a Board meeting in Dubai on Thursday, the ICC said it was prepared to withhold funding for Sri Lankan cricket and would write to Dissanayake seeking an explanation for the intervention.
Navin defends interim body after ICC threat
AFP: Sports minister Navin Dissanayake on Friday defended his decision to appoint an Interim Committee to oversee cricket, saying it was his “sovereign right.”
The comments came after the International Cricket Council said the move may amount to Government interference, and that it would withhold payments to Sri Lanka unless the matter was resolved. Dissanayake had last month sacked elected members of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and appointed a nine-member Interim Committee, headed by former Test batsman Sidath Wettimuny, to run the sport’s administration.
“I have every sovereign right to act as the minister,” he said.
“My actions are very much within our laws.” Dissanayake added that he had called a meeting of the Interim Committee on Monday to chart the future course of action.
The ICC said the minister’s action was a breach of its constitution, which requires free and fair elections of office-bearers at a member board.
The constitution states that “where a Government interferes in the administration of cricket by a member, the executive board shall have the power to suspend or refuse to recognise that member.”
