Sri Lanka Cricket is on course to adopt a brand new constitution approved by parliament before the conclusion of 2026, according to the chair of the organization’s Transformation Committee, Eran Wickramaratne. The legislative overhaul is designed to restructure domestic cricket administration, separate the governing body from government oversight, and ultimately clear the path for Sri Lanka to regain its full voting rights at the International Cricket Council.
The current board setup has faced severe international repercussions, including a suspension of voting rights by the ICC board due to perceived government interference stemming from the establishment of the Transformation Committee. Furthermore, Sri Lanka was stripped of its hosting rights for the upcoming Women’s Champions Trophy. The proposed legislation aims to resolve these issues by establishing a formal legal boundary between the administration and the state.
Key Legislative Changes and Board Structure
- Board Composition: The proposed Sri Lanka Cricket bill mandates a 14-member board split equally between member-elected officials and independent directors.
- Gender Representation: The new framework explicitly stipulates that at least two of the appointed independent directors must be women.
- Separation from State: The bill removes the governing body from the rigid confines of the 1973 Sports Law, creating much-needed institutional independence.
- Timeline: Following judicial review by the Supreme Court, the bill is expected to face its second and third readings in parliament before the year ends.
Path to Elections and ICC Reinstatement
With the current government holding a comfortable two-thirds majority, the legislative process is anticipated to proceed smoothly through parliament following the conclusion of public petitions and Supreme Court evaluations. Wickramaratne noted that if the schedule holds, regular and transparent elections could be initiated at Sri Lanka Cricket during the early months of 2027.
Once the elected and appointed officials successfully complete the mandated administrative transition processes under the new legal framework, the organization plans to formally petition the ICC to lift its suspension. Regaining full operational and voting status remains the ultimate objective for the board as it transitions away from decades of direct government reporting structures.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
