New Delhi: Sri Lanka government on Wednesday took over the administration of the country’s cricket board after the resignation of its president Shammi Silva. Along with Silva, the board’s executive committee members also put down their papers on April 28.
The office bearers stepped down after Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake negotiated a peaceful exit for them after mounting allegations of financial irregularities. This seemed to be in the pipeline for a long time as the government was not happy with the functioning of the board and its members.
Sports Minister confirms development
On April 29 after confirmation, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage stated in a press released that Sri Lanka Cricket has been brought under the ministry of youth affairs and sports for the time being.
‘Accordingly under the powers vested in him by sections 31 and 34 of the sports law no 25 of 1973, all administrative functions of Sri Lanka Cricket will be temporarily brought under the ministry of youth affairs and sports, stated a release.
He further said that the resignations of the existing set of office-bearers have been accepted. Meanwhile, the interim committee has not been appointed and it will be named shortly to find solutions to the current issues in Lankan cricket and to implement structural reforms.
Silva decided to quit after nearly three hours of deliberations by the extraordinary executive committee on Tuesday. However, no reasons for resignations were disclosed. The government had been contemplating the move to sack Silva on complaints received from players and over the Sri Lanka’s team’s poor performances in the international arena.
Silva chaired SLC for seven years having first won its presidency in 2019 by majority votes of member clubs. He was re-elected uncontested in 2021, 2023 and 2025 and also served as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), succeeding Jay Shah in 2025.
(With PTI inputs)