The momentous event of the week-ended-today was the presentation of Budget 2024 by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance. Usually, Sri Lankan Presidents keep away from Parliament; not Ranil Wickremesinghe, and a jolly good move it is. The Island of Tuesday November 14 headlined the VI Event as: “Prez presents Budget […]

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva has warned that the country could lose out on hosting the men’s Under-19 World Cup in January and February if the ICC’s suspension of SLC was not lifted. He also said the ICC wanted to suspend Sri Lanka back in July, but he prevented

By Shamindra Ferdinando Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe yesterday (10) said that a unanimous decision taken by Parliament to ask the top management of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to vacate office was non-binding. Therefore, the SLC wouldn’t comply with the decision taken by Parliament, the Deputy

There was an international conspiracy to ban cricket in Sri Lanka, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament on Friday. “All MPs agreed that high officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must go home. This is a symbolic gesture. We must take concrete steps to send this group of crooks

Saturday 11th November, 2023 The incumbent office-bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are facing a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path in the form of a resolution Parliament unanimously passed on Thursday, calling for their ouster. This is something unprecedented

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said he did not support any faction vying for power of Sri Lanka Cricket. During a meeting with government MPs at parliament, the President added that his intention was to protect cricket in Sri Lanka. Laws governing the sport had to be overhauled

By Shamindra Ferdinando Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe yesterday (09) said that just weeks after being appointed sports and youth affairs ministry by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, he had sought direct intervention of Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to secure a meeting with Asia Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah to clarify issues at hand. The UNP […]

By Saman Indrajith Parliament yesterday unanimously resolved to oust the incumbent office -bearers Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).At the end of the debate on a motion moved and seconded by both sides of the House, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena inquired whether it should be put to a vote

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the best solution for the Sri Lanka Cricket crisis is to implement the recommendations made in the Chitrasiri committee report which suggested that a new SLC constitution be formed through a parliamentary act.

‘2017 Foreign Exchange Act must be repealed’ By Shamindra Ferdinando President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Director General on Trade unions Saman Ratnapriya yesterday (08) denied what he called the Opposition’s unsubstantiated claim that sugar importers had benefited from the latest increase in the Special Commodity Levy from 25 cents per kg of sugar to Rs 50 per […]

The report by a Committee headed by Justice K.T. Chitrasiri to introduce a new Constitution to Sri Lanka Cricket through a parliamentary act was formally handed over to the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to resolve Sri Lanka Cricket issues, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry

A special meeting involving the leaders of political parties represented in Parliament was held at 1-30 p.m. today (08 Nov.), to discuss the recent concerns surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Herath alleges Budget Office part of flawed political strategy By Shamindra Ferdinando Civil society activist Sirithunga Jayasuriya Tuesday (26) said that those genuinely concerned about political strategies of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government should be wary of possible moves to put off the presidential election scheduled for next year. Pointing out that both Provincial Councils and Local [...

By Shamindra Ferdinando Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, declared in Parliament that the winners of LPL (Lanka Premier League) 2023 B-Love Kandy had been sponsored by an enterprise that was banned in the country. The statement was made in Parliament on 24th August. The one-time President of the Bar Association found fault with SLC […]

The problem with Sri Lanka Cricket was too much political interference and the government must introduce a new constitution for that outfit, said SJB MP, Eran Wickramaratne addressing Parliament on the adjournment debate on Sri Lanka Cricket on Thursday (24.) “Things are so bad that coaches

By Saman Indrajith The Cricekt Borad crisis cannot be sorted out without changing the method of electing office-bearers, says Chief Opposition Whip SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told parliament yesterday. Participating in an adjournment debate on an Auditor General’s Department report on SLC officials participating in the Men’s T-20 world cup tournament in Australia last year, […]

Yahapalana Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s plea for Indian funding to develop Elapathagama in the memory of the late Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera remains a mystery. In terms of an agreement signed on 14 July, 2017, India provided Sri Lankan Rs 300 mn to develop Elapathagama in the Anuradhapura district. The late Sobitha Thera, a controversial character, spearheaded […]

Friday 4th August, 2023 Never a dull day in Sri Lanka! Hardly a day passes without some controversy, and issues crop up at such a rate that one cannot keep track of them, the latest being what has come to be termed the ‘distortion’ of the national anthem at a sports event. Popular singer, Umara […]

Wednesday 2nd August, 2023 A brouhaha has erupted over what is described as the distortion of the national anthem at the Lanka Premier League (LPL) opening ceremony. Talented young vocalist Umara Sinhawansa has been drawing heavy fire for singing the national anthem in operatic style, and mispronouncing some words therein. Her performance has sparked a […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando The National Audit Office (NAO) has sought an explanation from Sports Ministry Secretary K. Mahesan regarding the sharp increase of allowances paid to the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as well as top management level personnel in USD terms. According

by Rex Clementine This week’s court ruling giving thumbs up to changes be made to the constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket has been welcomed in cricket circles. Don’t want to sound like a doomsday prophet but you can bet your bottom dollar that the aggrieved parties will fight tooth and nail to ensure