• Alleges Jay Shah’s actions detrimental to SL 
• Wants AKD to expedite legal action against ousted Ex-Co

Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe says the onus is on the Government to ensure that what he called the ‘ghosts of Shammi Silva’s administration’ does not creep into the Ex-Co of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) via a future election.

“I think the JVP-led NPP has the responsibility to ensure that ‘ghosts of Shammi Silva’ does not wriggle into the SLC offices in future,” the former politician, who served as Sports Minister from May 2022 to November 2023, told The Daily Morning Sports.

“I have a strong suspicion that Shammi and his tainted group will try their best to creep into SLC in some form or another. The Shammi (Silva) that I knew, is not one to throw in the towel and stay silent for far too long. That is why I urge this Government to implement the proposals contained in the report compiled by Retired Supreme Court Justice K T Chithrasiri-led Committee or if not the former SLC President will call the shots in due course.”

Ranasinghe, who was removed unceremoniously by ex-President Ranil Wickramasinghe, amid disagreements over the Sri Lanka Cricket crisis three years ago commended current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for dismissing the Shammil Silva-headed SLC Ex-Co last April.

But he stated in no uncertain terms that if Dissanayake is really concerned about sticking to his anti-corruption stance and rhetoric, then he has no other alternative but to institute legal action against Silva over a spate of corruption charges, which even the JVP had highlighted when in the Opposition.

“I believe removing Shammi Silva from office is not sufficient,” he pointed out. “What about the multitude of corruption charges brought against him by the JVP itself when in the Opposition. The people are waiting for action, and if this President does not pursue legal action against the ousted SLC Ex-Co, then that will give the impression to the public that there is a hidden nexus between this Government and Shammi as well.”

He remarked that he intends to personally write to the President in this connection being a former Minister, who had clashed with the ex-SLC head over his governance style notwithstanding corruption and fraud charges levelled against him.   

Asked for his opinion on the formation of the Cricket Transformation Committee for SLC, the ex-Minister now serving as the Chair of Sarvajana Balaya, observed that it consists of experts in the game and professionals from several sectors.

However, he cast serious doubt whether they too could achieve their end objective in the face of pressure exerted by Jay Shah-led ICC, and charged that the current ICC Chair has continued to poke his finger into cricket administration of Sri Lanka since late 2023 and ‘to its very detriment’ was how he put it.

Ranasinghe alleged that close links between Shammi Silva and Jay Shah had been instrumental in turning former President Wickremasinghe against him, ultimately prompting his abrupt and controversial removal as Sports Minister, after he had sacked Silva’s Ex-Co based on the AGs report.

The Auditor General’s and the Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene Committee reports commissioned by Ranasinghe had strongly emphasised that poor governance was at the root of the issues plaguing the game here.

The allegations were allied to widespread corruption and mismanagement charges connected to SLC Ex-Co members, and the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup debacle in India and it forced the former Minister to fire Silva and his entourage with drastic consequences to the country and the sport.

The move eventually led to ICC sanctions including the relocation of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa that year, and subsequently contributed to Ranasinghe’s own dismissal as the subject Minister in late November 2023.