A writ petition filed in the Court of Appeal
Sri Lanka lost 118 out of 194 matches since 2016 denoting a
dismal performance
The Court of Appeal yesterday issued notices on Minister of Sports,
President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and several others returnable for
March 15 in connection with a writ petition filed seeking an order to
formulate a new constitution for SLC.
A two-judge-bench of the Court comprising Justice (President) Arjuna
Obeysekera and Justice Mayadunna Corea made this order consequent
to writ petition filed by a group of prominent individuals including
former professional cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan.
The petitioners are; Muttiah Muralitharan, Kushil Gunasekera, Sidath
Wettimuny, Michael Tissera, Justice (Retd) Saleem Marsoof PC, Dinal
Phillips PC, Rienzie Wijetilleke, Thilan Wijesinghe, Vijaya Malalasekera,
Ana Punchihewa, Somasundaram Skandakumar and Dr. Palitha Kohona.
The petitioners stated that ad-hoc reforms short of a new Constitution
for SLC would be a cosmetic exercise, during these dire times for
Cricket in Sri Lanka.
The petitioners stated that generic solutions as amending the Sports
Act of Sri Lanka cannot improve the Governance standards of SLC.
Cricket in Sri Lanka is a million dollar business unmatched by any other
sport in the country. Cricket is the most popular sport in the country
that has won two World Cups.

The petitioners said they are expecting to form an independent
committee of governance experts to draft a brand new Constitution for
SLC with inputs from the International Cricket Council (ICC). We also
wish to have this new Constitution passed as an Act of Parliament to
avoid any dilution or compromises at the hands of vested interests, the
petitioner’s said. The petitioners further stated that from 1st January
2016 to 31st January 2021, Sri Lanka has lost 118 out of all 194
international matches played, for a dismal
winning percentage of 30.92%.
The petitioner said the current constitution of SLC has given birth to a
system of politically motivated “Honorary office bearers” who come
through a divisive election process.
They further said for a population of 22 million, Sri Lanka has a
monumental 24 first class clubs. Comparatively, for a population of 25
million, Australia has just 6 first class clubs and England with a
population of 56 million has just 18 first class clubs.

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