Exercising powers vested in him under the Sports act of the country, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa is planning to issue a special directive to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to empower Shammi Silva administration till March 31 (yesterday) and appoint a five member committee from April 1 (today), Cricket Age exclusively learns.
This comes in the wake of country’s Attorney-General (AG) Department’s recommendation that the present office-bearers term had expired on 20 February and that SLC should be placed under a new management committee till the elections on 20 May.
“According to the gazette notification, Mr. Shammi Silva administration term will be deemed as valid till March 31. It will be issued as per Attorney-General (AG) Department’s recommendation” a top Sports Ministry official told Cricket Age.
It is noteworthy that the Sports Ministry had sought legal advice from the AG after Colombo Colts CC challenged the legality of the current administration headed by Shammi Silva pointing out that their two-year term in office according to the SLC constitution had ended on 20 February. As its two-year term had ended, the petitioning club President Nishantha Ranatunga and Secretary Maj. Gen. Shiran Abeysekera had asked the Minister to appoint a caretaker for administration of the multi-million dollar sport until after the poll.
“Following the special directive, current office bearers administrative decisions after February 20, like appointment of cricket director Tom Moody, will remain valid” the Sports Ministry official added.
The election is scheduled to be held on the 20th of May at 10.30 AM at the Ministry of Sports Auditorium. If it takes place, an election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Cricket will go down in history as the most dubious and foul-play ridden ballot that the Shammi Silva camp is expected to wrap up on May 20.
