Sweeping reforms proposed to end vote-buying in Sri Lanka Cricket

The government-appointed Cricket Transformation Committee says it has completed its task of drafting a new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket, and is now preparing to hand over the document to the Legal Draftsman's Department before it proceeds through Parliament.

Committee Chairman Eran Wickremaratne confirmed that the panel's primary assignment had been accomplished within weeks of its appointment, and said he was confident the legislation could be tabled in Parliament as early as July.

Sources familiar with the draft say the existing administrative structure will undergo sweeping changes. The proposed model is expected to replace the traditional power base with a professionally managed Board of Governors or Board of Directors, with half the members elected through the existing cricket structure and the rest appointed from among respected corporate leaders with proven professional credentials and clean public records.

The reforms aim to tackle one of Sri Lanka Cricket's longest-standing problems. v

Vote-buying and politically motivated election campaigns that have repeatedly overshadowed the administration of the game.

If enacted, the new constitution is expected to remove many of the incentives that drive expensive election battles for board positions.

Legal adviser Dinal Philips said the draft had been prepared in line with International Cricket Council governance standards and benchmarked against constitutions adopted by several leading cricket nations. He said ICC President Jay Shah had expressed surprise at the speed with which the committee completed its assignment.

Former ICC legal adviser David Becker, who recently reviewed the draft after discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket's interim administrators, is understood to have endorsed the overall direction of the reforms, lending further confidence that the proposed constitution meets international governance expectations.

Transformation Committee Secretary Prakash Schaffter said stakeholder concerns had been carefully considered throughout the drafting process, with the committee seeking to balance the interests of clubs, provincial associations and the broader cricket community while building a governance structure capable of restoring public confidence.

Allegations of political interference, financial irregularities and administrative instability have undermined Sri Lanka Cricket for years, despite the country's proud cricketing tradition.

Whether the proposed constitution succeeds or fails could determine if the sport finally moves towards transparent, professional administration, or remains trapped in its turbulent past.

(Lankanews.lk)