Sri Lanka President Sack Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe

SLC had called on the ‘higher echelons’ of the Sri Lankan government to ensure that politicians do not re-enter the country’s cricket administration.

New Delhi: Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday sacked Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe amid ongoing controversies in Sri Lanka’s cricket governing body. Ranasinghe tried to sack the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and install an interim committee headed by Arjun Ranatunga.

However, Ranasinghe has not only been sacked as Sports Minister but also removed as Youth Minister and Irrigation Minister – the other portfolios he held.

This happened following his accusations against the president in parliament earlier on Monday. Moreover, Ranasinghe had routinely accused SLC of mismanagement and corruption. A day later, courts in Sri Lanka removed the interim committee he appointed, which included two sons of politicians who had no previous experience of leading the cricket team. Arjuna Ranatunga led the group.

Is this my reward for drawing attention to corruption in cricket? Speaking about his appointment of an interim committee to oversee Sri Lankan cricket administration, Ranasinghe said: “I have taken action based on audit reports.”

SLC had called on the “higher echelons” of the Sri Lankan government to ensure that politicians do not re-enter the country’s cricket administration.

It is believed that SLC has sought suspension from the ICC in a bid to put pressure on the Sports Minister, who had temporarily dismissed the cricket board.

Sri Lanka also lost the privilege of hosting the Under-19 Men’s World Cup, originally scheduled for January-February 2024, due to SLC’s suspension.