Sri Lanka Cricket Bill gazetted to reform sport governance

A new Bill proposing a statutory framework for the governance of Sri Lanka Cricket has been officially published in the Government Gazette. The legislation aims to establish Sri Lanka Cricket as a body corporate responsible for regulating, promoting, and developing the sport within the country.

The proposed 14-member board would consist of seven Independent Directors and seven Elected Directors, with a requirement that at least two Independent Directors be women. Leadership roles would be split, with the chairperson selected from the Independent Directors and the deputy chairperson from the Elected Directors. To ensure turnover, the Bill sets four-year terms and an eight-year cumulative limit for Elected Directors.

To address transparency and accountability, the Bill introduces eligibility restrictions for certain politicians, journalists, media owners, and player agents. It also establishes a three-tier membership and voting system, mandates audited accounts and annual reports to be submitted to Parliament, and grants the minister authority to initiate inquiries into allegations of corruption or financial irregularities. If enacted, the Bill will replace existing sports laws regarding cricket and transfer all current assets, liabilities, and contracts to the new entity.