Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been included among the nine members of the newly constituted transformation committee tasked with running Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), following the government’s decision to sack the existing office-bearers on Wednesday.
Sangakkara is the highest-profile former cricketer in a group that also includes Roshan Mahanama and Siddharth Vettimuni.
However, the majority of members come from partnership, legal and political backgrounds, with former MP Eran Wickramaratne appointed as chairman.
Wickramaratne, who represents Sri Lanka’s main opposition Samaki Jana Palavekaya, is reported to have stepped down from his political roles to take up the post. He is not a sitting Member of Parliament.
“I am privileged to lead a nine-member team of individuals of impeccable integrity and expertise,” said Wickramaratne, before outlining the transformation team’s two primary objectives in a statement.
“Our immediate priority is to completely overhaul the governance structure at SLC,” he said. “The cornerstone of this effort is the implementation of the new constitution, which ensures that it serves as a strong, modern foundation for sport.”
The existing SLC constitution has long faced criticism as outdated and sometimes counterproductive.
It has also been linked to various reports including governance problems, inefficiency and corruption concerns. The group’s inclusion of two lawyers—Dinal Phillips and Upul Kumarapperuma—suggests that constitutional reform will be central to their mandate.
Along with structural reforms, Wickramaratne emphasized that the main focus will be on improving the performance of the national team on the field, ensuring that long-term growth is translated into sustainable results at the highest level of international cricket.
He noted that sustained investment in infrastructure, support systems and empowerment of players will be central to Sri Lanka’s revitalization strategy.
“We will focus on establishing the necessary structures, world-class facilities and incentive models to strengthen our national teams. Our goal is to ensure that our players continue to deliver world-class performances and elevate Sri Lanka back to the top of the international rankings.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to comment on the recent government-led changes to the SLC. However, the governing body has previously taken a tough stance on political interference in cricket administration in Sri Lanka.
In 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended the SLC due to government interference, although the then president Shammi Silva requested the suspension.
A similar intervention occurred in 2015, when the SLC was placed under an interim committee and its funding was conducted by the ICC.
Wickramaratna’s appointment—an opposition political figure rather than a government appointee—is seen as a significant shift in approach. He stressed that the team will fully comply with ICC norms.
While embedding transparency, anti-corruption and professionalism in the DNA of the organization, we are committed to fully complying with International Cricket Council norms,” he said.
Some of the members of the new team, including Sidath Wettimuni and Prakash Shafter, who earlier led the interim team in 2015, bring cricket management experience. Avanti Kolambake, who hails from the corporate sector, is the only woman in the nine-member panel.
The reshuffle follows public criticism of former SLC president Shammi Silva after Sri Lanka’s disappointing performances in recent ICC tournaments, including the co-hosted T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Despite multiple defeats by both the men’s and women’s teams in the knockout rounds of major tournaments since 2014, Silva has held the presidency unopposed for three consecutive terms.
Newly Appointed Alternate Committee Members: