Sri Lanka’s sports ministry has replaced the previous Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board with a nine-strong Transformation Committee, headed by former opposition MP and banker Eran Wickramaratne. The group blends three past internationals – Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama and Sidath Wettimuny – with figures from law, business and public policy.
“We have been given a serious job and a short runway,” one committee member told local media on Wednesday afternoon. “Cricket people are in here, yes, but most of us were brought in to fix systems first.”
First tasks
Wickramaratne, who has taken leave of all party positions to avoid a conflict of interest, set out two priorities in a brief statement.
“I am privileged to lead a nine-member committee of individuals with impeccable integrity and expertise,” he began. “Our immediate priority is a total overhaul of the governance framework at SLC. The cornerstone of this effort will be the implementation of the new consitution, ensuring it serves as a robust, modern foundation for the sport.”
The existing constitution is widely viewed as outdated. It gives disproportionate voting power to dozens of district associations – some without viable playing programmes – and has been blamed for persistent infighting and allegations of corruption. Two of the new appointees, senior counsel Dinal Phillips and sports lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma, are expected to drive the redrafting process.
On-field matters sit just behind governance in the committee’s agenda. “We will focus on establishing the structures, world-class facilities, and incentive models necessary to empower our national teams. Our goal is to enable our players to consistently deliver world-class performances and elevate Sri Lanka back to the top tier of international rankings,” Wickramaratne said.
Why it matters
The International Cricket Council (ICC) typically bristles at direct political intervention. In 2023 the global body suspended SLC following a stand-off between the then sports minister and former board president Shammi Silva. Eight years earlier, an interim committee installed by a different government was barred from voting at ICC board meetings and had its funding placed in escrow.
That history makes the current move risky. However, officials believe the appointment of an opposition figure rather than a sitting government MP could ease fears of partisan meddling. Wickramaratne stressed the point: the committee is “committed to absolute compliance with International Cricket Council regulations while embedding transparency, anti-corruption, and professionalism into the organisation’s DNA”.
Cricket voices inside the room
Sangakkara, now an MCC trustee and highly respected broadcaster, provides the highest-profile cricket presence. Mahanama, a former ICC match referee, and ex-board chairman Wettimuny add administrative and playing experience. Sources close to the trio say they only agreed to serve after receiving assurances that the new constitution will reduce political patronage and make director roles genuinely contestable.
“Muzzling politicians is only half the battle,” a former national selector observed. “You still need club delegates willing to vote for long-term investment instead of quick wins.”
Early reaction
Club administrators were cautious on Wednesday evening. “We will wait to see a draft of the constitution before commenting,” said one Colombo Premier League official. Player representatives were warmer. “If the new guys can finally sort central contracts and the domestic calendar, we’re in,” noted a senior men’s squad member. The women’s team, fresh from a series win over South Africa, released a short statement welcoming “greater professionalism and facilities”.
What happens next
The committee’s tenure is initially set at six months, with an option to extend if reforms lag. Tasks include:
• Producing a new constitution acceptable to both the ICC and local stakeholders.
• Auditing SLC finances, sponsorship deals and player payment structures.
• Re-evaluating the first-class format – currently a 26-team tournament criticised for diluting standards.
• Establishing a transparent pathway for elections once the transformation phase ends.
Behind the scenes, officials are already sounding out governors of the ICC about a possible inspection visit. Much depends on whether the new set-up is perceived as a technocratic fix or a fresh form of state control.
A measured optimism
Sri Lankan cricket has flipped between boom and bust for much of the past decade: a men’s T20 World Cup title in 2014, then a steady slide in rankings; boardrooms mired in legal wrangles, yet age-group teams repeatedly punching above their weight. This latest shake-up is unlikely to end all disagreements, but it does align powerful former players with reform-minded professionals – a coalition some observers have long argued was necessary.
No one on the committee is promising overnight success. Still, as one veteran coach put it, “If this lot can tidy the books, thin the leagues and pay players on time, that alone will feel like winning a Test series away.”
