Amid the fallout from Sri Lanka's humiliating 302-run defeat to India in the Cricket World Cup, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has called for the immediate resignation of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
In a press release, the Minister emphasized that SLC and the national selectors must take responsibility for the disastrous World Cup campaign, which was further exacerbated by Thursday's defeat.
"Sri Lanka's officials have forfeited their moral and ethical right to remain in their positions. They should resign from their posts," the Minister said.
He also pointed out that the omission of senior cricketers like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal had a detrimental impact on Sri Lanka's World Cup performance.
"The exclusion of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal from the World Cup squad also negatively influenced Sri Lanka's debacle at the World Cup," he asserted.
"It's quite laughable that SLC is defending the selectors and its executive committee."
In a separate letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sports Minister raised concerns about SLC's associations with brands linked to betting and gambling companies.
"The current leadership of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has made decisions that have inflicted significant damage on the organization. Various Sri Lankan players have faced allegations of involvement in match-fixing schemes, and there has been a public backlash against Sri Lanka Cricket's perceived promotion of a culture of betting and gambling," his letter stated.
"The organization's decision to allow such entities to participate in the Lanka Premier League has faced criticism, as Betting and Gambling are strictly regulated businesses, while promoting related activities is illegal according to several acts of Parliament."
This letter came in response to a complaint from SLC itself, in which they expressed frustration about the Sports Minister's inaction, citing his failure to provide the necessary approvals required to conduct the Under 19 World Cup and a franchise-based T10 league in Sri Lanka.
