• Ex-Minister doubts team becoming a force again 

Ex-Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara says that it will take a good few more years before Sri Lanka would be able to consistently challenge India in international cricket, as he aired his views in the aftermath of the national team’s debacle at the ongoing 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

The former Minister who is currently an SJB lawmaker stated that it would take nothing short of a miracle if the national team is to come on par with the regional powerhouse in the game, and noted that he was least surprised by the disjointed outings of Dasun Shanaka’s side.

He remarked that a total overhaul of the system is needed from top to bottom without political interference if the team is to chart a fresh trajectory in the country’s best-loved sport.

However, Jayasekara was sceptical if the current powers that be had the profound knowledge to undertake such an onerous task by the nation.

“I have doubts whether Sri Lanka could become a force in world cricket or even in this region again,’” the outspoken MP-a vocal critic (from politics to sports) of the NPP Government, told The Daily Morning Sports.

“In my view, we (SL) will not be able to match India in any format of the game for many more moons, to come. Don’t think we will become world beaters for a long time to come. That is the sad reality, and that alone shows how far we lag behind. I think a radical overhaul of the system is the need of the hour, from coaches to support staff and those manning the high- performance unit and those in charge of fitness etc.”

Jayasekara who served as the subject Minister from 2015-18, said it would be unjust to haul the cricket board over the coals for the national team’s latest World Cup drawback.

He opined that as it was the players who are supposed to perform on the field, if they are unable to deliver consistent performances it would be unfair to deflect the blame onto officials, as it is not a responsibility entirely thrust on administrators.

He pointed out that cricket has evolved from the time that he had served as the Minister a decade ago, and insisted that Sri Lanka had failed to move in with the times.

“My opinion is that we (SL) as a cricketing nation and particularly our players have not evolved. Therefore, I think we need to assess this situation urgently, and take action accordingly.”

But, the one-time Sports Minister was suspicious whether the incumbent Sports Minister had the chutzpah to take the bull by the horns and engineer a swift turnaround in the team’s fortunes.

He added that neither the Government nor the Minister concerned has shown any willingness to take tough decisions needed to transform the sport.

He affirmed that under the current status quo it would be foolhardy to expect the team to become a force in the region let alone becoming an all-conquering team.

The T20 World Cup co-host struggled for consistency throughout, with the exception of a sensational victory over Australia in the group stage.

But it only proved to be a false dawn. The island-nation, despite progressing to the Super 8 phase with a defeat to boot against Zimbabwe in their final group match unravelled at the hands of both England and New Zealand.

The Lankans thus crashed out of the event bringing forth stinging criticism of players and board officials by incensed fans having followed their team’s outings in their numbers in both Colombo and Kandy, all being to no avail.