ICC unofficially aware of CTC formation: Gamage

Says Shammi and Co reached point of no return 

Asserts all citizens should aspire to such posts, despite background 

Probe against Volleyball Federation for failing to abide by Ministry guidelines 

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage says that the Government is yet to hold official talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the setting up of the Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC) for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently.

However, he averred that unofficially the game’s global governing body based in Dubai was aware of the formation of the Eran Wickramaratne helmed CTC, and noted that the duration of the latter would be decided once and for all following official discussions with the ICC.

Bespectacled Gamage, made these comments during the weekly Derana 360 political talk show aired on Monday (11), with specific focus on cricket and related issues in sports.

Asked of the real reasons behind the recent decision to remove the legally-constituted SLC Ex-Co headed by Shammi Silva, a task which four other Governments had not been able to achieve, he simply said that it had reached a stage that the previous SLC Ex-Co had no room to negotiate further.

“They (Shammi Silva and Ex-Co) had reached the point of no return,” Gamage told the talk show host. “The call from the public for his (Shammi) head was growing by the day and the team’s dismal performance across all formats vindicated the decision to remove him and his Ex-Co. So, we as the Government with the input of the President, took the decision to request them to quit amicably from their posts at SLC.”

The Minister stated that the removal of the previous SLC Ex-Co, had been done by a particular group from the NPP hierarchy, having closely inspected the performance of Silva’s administration during the past 12-month period.

Pressed for his opinion on the time limit placed on the CTC, the subject Minister remarked that it could only be finalised following official engagement with ICC officials who are due here shortly, but noted that the Government was not intent on placing any undue time frame at the same time.

“It is too early to comment whether the CTC will be in place for three months, six months or for a year,” he said.

“It will depend on the consent of the ICC as well. Cricket has to be transformed from district level including the school stage as well. This I don’t think the Transformation Committee will be able to achieve overnight. Once we talk to the ICC, we should be able to reveal its time duration.”

Gamage also added that it was immaterial for the NPP Government of an individual’s political, religious or social status when selecting people for positions, and emphasised that as long as they continue to be citizens of this country every person should have the right to stake a claim with the necessary qualifications.  

He made this observation when quizzed about the decision to pick former Opposition lawmaker Eran Wickramaratne to be the chair of the CTC, and at a time when the latter’s name had not even been bandied around in cricketing circles before his appointment.

The Minister stressed that Wickramaratne’s business acumen allied to his political experience and cricketing background had tipped the scales in favour of the ex-MP.

Gamage also touched on a few other sporting issues such as the refusal of his Ministry to release funds for the Sri Lanka U18 volleyball team to compete at the Asian U18 Volleyball Championship in Uzbekistan recently.

He charged that the stipulation put forth by the Sports Ministry to send visa applications and related documents 21 days prior to departure had been intentionally overlooked by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVF).

He asserted that this rule was applicable for all 74 federations and said an investigation has been launched against the federation concerned as to what prompted them to delay the requirement till the 11th hour, and insisted stern action will be instituted against those responsible for the fiasco.

He further pointed out that lack of funds also pre-empted the Ministry’s decision to decline the green light the tour, but explained that no leeway would be given in future for federations to tangle with sporting aspirations of athletes.

However, the talk show host surprisingly failed to question the Minister as to how his Ministry had approved a budget for Rs. 70 million for 32 officials to accompany 77 athletes to the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China recently, when it had to only fork out Rs. 20 million for the volleyballers.

Source: The morning