Sri Lanka is moving towards a sweeping restructuring of how cricket is governed, with a newly gazetted Bill proposing a new statutory framework for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) covering its leadership, membership, voting system, financial accountability and administrative oversight.
The proposed legislation would establish SLC as a body corporate responsible for regulating, promoting and developing cricket across the country. If enacted, it would replace the provisions governing cricket under the existing Sports Law, while transferring the current organisation’s assets, liabilities, contracts, employees and pending proceedings to the newly constituted SLC.
At the centre of the reforms is a redesigned Board of Directors that would combine independent and elected representation, accompanied by new restrictions on who can hold office and limits on how long Elected Directors can remain in the administration.
New board would split independent and elected representation
The proposed SLC Board would comprise 14 members, divided equally between seven Independent Directors and seven Elected Directors. Independent Directors would be nominated through a Nominations Committee, while Elected Directors would be chosen by SLC’s voting membership.
At least two of the seven Independent Directors would have to be women. The Chairperson would be selected from the Independent Directors, while the Deputy Chairperson would come from the elected group.
Elected Directors would serve four-year terms and face a cumulative limit of eight years in office. The Bill also establishes qualifications for Board membership, including requirements applying to former cricketers seeking appointment as Independent Directors.
A former player appointed in that capacity would need to be a person of good standing who had played at least 15 international matches, with those appearances coming before the 36 months immediately preceding the appointment.
Voting system set for major restructuring
The proposed framework would also reshape how SLC members participate in elections and decision-making by introducing three membership tiers with different voting rights.
Tier A members would receive two votes each, while Tier B members and Provincial Cricket Associations would have one vote apiece. Tier C members would be permitted to attend as observers but would not have voting rights.
The changes would alter the role of District Cricket Associations within SLC’s governance structure. Rather than participating directly in decision-making, district bodies would operate through Provincial Cricket Associations.
Alongside the Board, the legislation provides for a range of committees covering different areas and functions within SLC and includes provisions governing the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer and other staff.
Eligibility rules target conflicts and integrity risks
The proposed reforms introduce an extensive set of disqualification criteria intended to restrict individuals with specified conflicts, disciplinary histories or integrity concerns from serving on the SLC Board.
Restrictions would apply to certain political and cricket-related officeholders, journalists and media owners, and player agents or managers. A person who had worked as a paid employee in electronic or print media during the three years before nominations would also be ineligible.
Board members would be prohibited from simultaneously holding office in an SLC member club or association or another National Sports Association established under the Sports Law. Neither a Director nor an immediate family member could hold an interest in betting, gaming or wagering businesses or organisations.
Individuals convicted under Sri Lankan law of offences involving areas including fraud, dishonesty, corruption, violence or moral turpitude would face disqualification, as would people previously removed from office for specified disciplinary, misconduct or breach-of-duty reasons.
The restrictions would extend to individuals subjected to relevant penalties, bans, suspensions, prohibitions or disqualifications by bodies including the ICC, Asian Cricket Council, Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency, World Anti-Doping Agency, SLC or affiliated cricket organisations. Covered offences include corruption, betting, match-fixing, spot-fixing, prohibited substances and misuse of inside information.
Financial reporting and government oversight would increase
The governance changes would be accompanied by additional accountability requirements. SLC’s audited financial statements and annual reports would be submitted to Parliament and made publicly available online.
The Sports Minister would also have powers to initiate audits and inquiries when credible allegations involving corruption, financial irregularities or governance failures arise. The framework provides for action that could include the suspension or removal of individual Directors or the Board.
The Bill also gives SLC scope to enter a broad range of commercial and development arrangements, including investments, joint ventures, strategic alliances, concessions, public-private partnerships and build-operate-transfer agreements, both domestically and internationally.
Reform extends beyond SLC boardroom
Separate discussions within the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports have addressed the wider development structure surrounding Sri Lankan cricket. SLC currently allocates around Rs. 900 million annually alongside equipment for school cricket, while plans are being developed with the education authorities to formalise coach recruitment and player selection processes.
The governance legislation itself has now been gazetted but has not yet become law. Its proposed combination of independent Board representation, revised voting rights, term limits, tighter eligibility standards and expanded accountability requirements would represent a substantial restructuring of Sri Lanka Cricket if enacted.
