NEW CONSTITUTION OF SLC TRANSFORMATION COMMITTEE-by Sunil Thenabadu
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The proposed new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will establish a 14-member governing board comprising seven elected members and seven independently appointed members, the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee said.
Transformation Committee Chairman Eran Wickramaratne and Cricket Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny said the reforms are aimed at creating a more independent, professional and stable governance structure for Sri Lanka Cricket.
Under the proposed system, the seven appointed directors will be selected through an independent nominations process involving representatives of recognized professional bodies and one government representative.
The institutions mentioned during the briefing included the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Nominations for the appointed positions may be submitted from any source, but candidates will be required to possess expertise in specified fields.The appointed directors are expected to include professionals with qualifications or experience in accounting and finance, law, marketing, information technology and cricket administration. At least one position will be reserved for a former cricketer who has been retired from the game for a specified period.
The Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket will be selected from among the appointed directors, rather than the elected members, with the committee saying this is intended to safeguard the independence of the administration.
The appointed directors will serve on a rotational basis to ensure continuity and prevent the entire board from changing at the same time.
Board members will be permitted to serve a maximum of two four-year terms.
The remaining seven directors will be elected through a revised voting structure directly linked to cricket participation and performance.
Under the proposed system, clubs competing in the top tiers of domestic cricket will receive voting rights, while provincial cricket bodies will also be represented.
The committee said a club could lose its voting rights if it is relegated from a higher domestic tier, making representation dependent on cricketing status rather than non-cricketing factors.
The current voting structure, which was recently reduced to 59 votes, is expected to be further reduced to 39 votes.
Wickramaratne said the reforms would also create a clearer division of responsibility between the governing board and Sri Lanka Cricket’s senior management team.
The board would focus on governance, policy, transparency and accountability, while the management team would be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the sport.
The draft constitution has already been handed over to the Minister of Sports.
Wickramaratne said the draft will be reviewed by the Attorney General and the Legal Draftsman’s Department before being translated, submitted for Cabinet approval and gazetted.
Following gazetting, the proposed law will be presented to Parliament for its first reading. A two-week period will then be available for any citizen to challenge the legislation before the Supreme Court.
The court is expected to deliver its determination within 48 to 72 hours, after which dates will be fixed for the second and third readings in Parliament.
Once approved by Parliament, the new constitution will become law.
The committee said political leaders, including opposition representatives, will also be briefed on the proposals to secure broad support for the reforms.
The Transformation Committee stressed that the document remains a draft and could be amended following discussions with stakeholders and during the legislative process before it is finalised.
The International Cricket Council has not imposed a specific deadline but has asked Sri Lanka to complete the election of a new governing body as soon as possible, the committee said.
