- Reiterates talks with ICC cordial and constructive
Misappropriation of funds at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is far more acute than initially envisaged, SLC Transformation Committee Chair Eran Wickramaratne has revealed during his first interaction with the nation’s mainstream media on Thursday (21).
He said that the Transformation Committee would strive for a forensic audit to get to the root of the financial mismanagement at the sport’s domestic controlling body headquartered on Maitland Place, and sought time for the task ahead.
“A forensic audit has already been called for,” the former lawmaker, who assumed office late last month, told reporters.
“The misappropriation of finances at SLC is far bigger than initially estimated. To get to the bottom of it we need to carry out a forensic audit, and it will also take a fair share of time, since it is not an exercise that can be done overnight. However, we will do it.”
The nine-member strong Transformation Committee led by Wickramaratne was appointed by the Government in April.
It replaced the Shammi Silva-helmed SLC Executive Committee which had controlled the nation’s wealthiest sporting institution since 2019, but had faced mounting criticism over the governing body’s handling of affairs allied to the team’s declining form on the pitch across formats.
Wickramaratne, a former cricketer, did not put a time span on the tenure of his committee, when asked as to how long they intended to remain in office.
Nevertheless, he insisted that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was comfortable with the reforms they planned to introduce into the setup.
Recently, two ICC officials, ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia were in Colombo for talks with Government officials in the aftermath of the formation of the caretaker committee, subtly named Transformation Committee.
Wickramaratne described recent deliberations with the two officials from the Dubai-based world body as “extremely cordial and constructive,” and observed that he also intended to hold further discussions with them shortly.
He however ruled out a set deadline being placed on the Transformation Committee by the ICC to introduce the much-touted reform programme for SLC, but opined that they would look to expedite their work nonetheless.
Foremost in the reform agenda is the introduction of a new constitution for SLC, and the new Chair maintained that it would not be railroaded.
He noted that due process, including Parliament ratification and allowing the public to petition the court, would be followed.
Wickramaratne also expressed satisfaction over the makeup of the personnel in his committee, stating that they hailed from diverse backgrounds such as cricket, finance, legal, and human resources.
He commented that with such a group of personnel encompassing all requisite sectors, their motive was to revamp the entire setup.