Renowned cricketer Kumar Sangakkara has joined the Transformation Committee at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) following the central government’s decision to remove existing office-bearers on Wednesday, April 29. On the same day, SLC President Shammi Silva resigned, leading to the resignations of other Executive Committee members, as stated in an official release from SLC.
Eran Wickramratne, the chair of the newly formed committee, announced that Sangakkara will work alongside Roshan Mahanama and Sidath Wettimuny. Wickramratne, who has served as a Member of Parliament, emphasized that the committee’s main objective is to draft a new constitution to help SLC operate independently and more effectively.
“I am honored to lead a nine-member committee known for their integrity and expertise. Our immediate focus is to completely revamp the governance framework at SLC. The new constitution will be a key part of this effort, providing a strong foundation for the sport,” Wickramaratne said, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The current SLC constitution has been criticized for being outdated and often hindering progress. It has been blamed for giving too much power to ineffective cricketing bodies and is seen as a factor in corrupt practices and mismanagement. The addition of lawyers Dinal Phillips and Upul Kumarapperuma indicates that a new constitution is a priority for the committee.
Once the new governance methods are in place, the committee plans to outline a strategy to improve opportunities for Sri Lankan national teams by enhancing cricket infrastructure and providing top-notch facilities, ensuring the teams are prepared to compete at the highest level.
“We will concentrate on creating the necessary structures, world-class facilities, and incentive systems to empower our national teams. Our aim is to help our players consistently perform at an elite level and restore Sri Lanka’s position in the top tiers of International rankings,” he added.
Composition of SLC’s Transformation Committee
Eran Wickramaratne (politics/corporate), Roshan Mahanama (cricket/corporate), Kumar Sangakkara (cricket/business), Sidath Wettimuny (cricket/corporate), Prakash Schaffter (corporate/cricket), Avanthi Colombage (corporate), Thushira Radella (corporate), Upul Kumarapperuma (law/politics), and Dinal Phillips (law).