Sports Minister Harin Fernando informed the Court of Appeal on Wednesday (13 Dec.) of the decision to revoke a previous gazette notification appointing an Interim Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and to dissolve the said panel.
The court received details of this matter during the consideration of a petition filed by SLC President Shammi Silva against the Interim Committee earlier today.
Meanwhile, the Appellate Court's decision on whether to further address the petition is set to be announced on 15 December.
Minister Fernando's new Extraordinary Gazette, signaling the revocation of the Interim Committee's appointment for SLC, was published on Tuesday (12 Dec.).
Consequently, through the latest communiqué, the Extraordinary Gazette referenced as No. 2356/43 dated November 05, 2023, has been rescinded with immediate effect, leading to the dissolution of the Interim Committee responsible for exercising the powers, functions, and duties of SLC.
On 06 November, a seven-member Interim Committee was appointed by then-Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. The committee, chaired by World Cup-winning former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, included S. I. Imam, Retired Supreme Court Judge; Rohini Marasinghe, Retired Supreme Court Judge; Irangani Perera, Retired High Court Judge; Arjuna Ranatunga (Chairman); Upali Dharmadasa; Rakitha Rajapakshe, Attorney-at-Law; and Hisham Jamaldeen.
The day following the appointment, the Appeals Court issued a 14-day stay order on the Interim Committee. The order was issued by a two-member judge bench, comprising Appeals Court President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Vikum Kaluarachchi, in response to the writ application filed by SLC President Shammi Silva challenging the move.
