Sports

SLC’s Sports City Project Challenged by Stakeholder

A leading and century old cricket club in Sri Lanka, Colts Cricket Club, has challenged Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to prove the authenticity and transparency of the so-called Jaffna Sports City project in Mandathivu. In a letter fired to the Secretary of SLC, Colts Cricket Club president Nishantha Ranatunga and secretary retired Major General Shiran Abeysekera have asked that the Jaffna Sports City project be clarified to all its member clubs and stakeholders before the Resolution is put to a vote and passed.

The letter states: We refer to the Extraordinary Resolution No. 02 circulated by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regarding the proposed establishment of the Jaffna Sports City project in Mandathivu (“the Project”). Colombo Colts Cricket Club (“The Club”) acknowledges and appreciates the vision underpinning this initiative and supports, in principle, the objective of strengthening cricket infrastructure and expanding the reach of the game across all regions of Sri Lanka.

Notwithstanding the above, the Club considers it both appropriate and necessary to place on record several key concerns and to formally request that certain safeguards be incorporated before the Resolution is put to a vote. Given the scale, complexity, and long-term financial and governance implications of the proposed Project, the Club submits that the Membership is entitled to greater clarity and assurance before extending its full support. The Club also notes a preliminary constitutional concern:

Extraordinary Resolution No. 02 is being presented to the Membership simultaneously with Special Resolution No. 01, which seeks to amend the Objects of the SLC Constitution under Article 2 to permit the very commercial and development activities that underpin this Project. The Club’s position is that the constitutional amendment must first be conclusively adopted before any authorisation of the Project can lawfully follow. To proceed otherwise risks rendering Extraordinary Resolution No. 02 constitutionally vulnerable to legal challenge, which would be contrary to the interests of SLC and the Membership as a whole.

Financial Framework and Exposure: The Resolution, in its current form, does not provide sufficient detail on the overall project cost, funding structure, or the extent of SLC’s financial exposure. The Club notes that the Project is intended to be financed, in part, through SLC’s internally generated funds. It is important that the Membership be provided with a clear financial framework, including defined funding limits, maximum financial exposure, risk allocation, and the potential impact on allocations to domestic cricket and member clubs.

The Club seeks assurance that member club funding will be ring-fenced and not adversely affected by the financial demands of this Project Extent of Authority Delegated to the Executive Committee: The Resolution grants the Executive Committee and Office Bearers broad authority to undertake financing arrangements, enter into partnerships, and execute the Project-with no defined financial ceiling and no requirement for further Membership approval at key milestones. While the Club recognises the need for operational flexibility, the absence of defined thresholds or approval checkpoints on material financial and contractual commitments raises serious governance concerns.

The Club respectfully submits that appropriate financial limits and membership approval checkpoints be incorporated into the Resolution before it is adopted Governance, Transparency, and Oversight: Given the scale of the proposed development, general references to existing governance, frameworks are insufficient. The Club recommends the establishment of a formal project to specify the oversight Membership, structure, including an independent oversight committee, periodic reporting accountability and dedicated audit and transparency mechanisms to ensure at all stages of the Project’s development and implementation.

Scope and Alignment with Core Objectives: The Project as outlined includes significant commercial components such as tourism, hospitality, and non-sporting developments. While these may enhance financial viability, it is essential that their structure, governance, and alignment with the primary mandate of SLC be clearly defined and documented.

The Club wishes to ensure that core cricketing priorities remain central and are not subordinated to commercial imperatives. Land Acquisition and Regulatory Dependencies: The Project is contingent upon Government facilitation, including the grant and long-term lease of State land and the obtaining of all necessary regulatory approvals.

These dependencies introduce material execution risk. The Club requests greater clarity on the current status of these arrangements, the applicable timelines, and contingency planning in the event that the requisite approvals are not obtained, to assist the Membership in properly assessing the viability of the Project.

Phased Implementation and Control Mechanisms: While the flexibility of phased implementation is understood, the Club submits that each phase must be subject to clearly defined financial, operational, and governance benchmarks. Progression between phases should be contingent upon meeting such criteria, with appropriate visibility to and, where material, approval from the Membership.

The Club requests that a phased implementation framework with defined benchmarks be presented to the Membership prior to the adoption of the Resolution. Government and Ministry Oversight - Formal Approval as a Prerequisite: Given the national significance of this Project particularly in relation to State land allocation, public-private partnership structures, and regional development in the Northern Province the Club is firmly of the view that formal Ministry involvement and approval is not merely desirable but a necessary prerequisite before SLC commits to the Project.

Specifically, the Club requests confirmation and documentation of the following: A: The formal approval and endorsement of the Ministry of Sports, as the Ministry responsible for SLC, for the establishment and implementation of the Jaffna Sports City project. B: The concurrence of the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Finance in respect of the proposed State land grant, long-term lease arrangements, and any public financing components. C: The Ministry engagement of Provincial and approval of relevant Northern Province authorities and the Councils in respect of the regional development and land use implications of the Project. D: Confirmation that all applicable statutory and regulatory approvals - including clearances, urban development approvals, and any required defined Parliamentary or Cabinet-level sanctions have been obtained or are on a clearly defined path to being obtained, and Confirmation that the Project is aligned with and supported by applicable national policy and development frameworks.

source: Daily Mirror