– Cricket in Sri Lanka is on the pathway for an unprecedented overhaul into the realms of accountability, decency and responsibility, the new Transformation Committee of the sport declared at its first meeting of journalists today nearly a month after replacing a despised hierarchy that nine out of ten people wanted dismissed. The declaration was made by three heavyweights of the government’s Transformation Committee in Eran Wickremaratne the head, former Test cricketer Sidat Wettimuny and Prakash Schaffter who are considered a cut-above-the-rest trio.

“Cricket does not belong to a committee or a select group of people. It belongs to the people and they are the stakeholders”, declared Wickremaratne flanked by Wettimuny and Schaffter at a major 70-minute long Press conference, the first by them since forming the interim governance of cricket. All three expressed confidence the most wanted changes will be made within a six month period that will also go through the process of Parliamentary approval after legal consultations “This Committee represents all areas of governance, playing and administration foremost and the views of the people will be accommodated and their suggestions taken into account while the KT Chitrasiri Probe Committee report for change will serve as the base”, said Wickremaratne.

He said the main focus that has already commenced is the implementation of the call of many for years of a New Constitution that will stamp out corruption and mismanagement that have been the misery and curse of cricket’s administration that led to the downfall of an adored team. Wickremaratne said a corrupt voting system that in the past installed shady characters into the board rooms of SLC will be eradicated once and for all and the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially notified. “A so-called democratic voting process seems to have been abused in a big way and it needs to be corrected. “We will be doing a forensic audit report and looking into all irregularities and questionable expenses indulged in by the previous administration. The audit will also extend to cover the Lanka Premier League. “I will not back track when it comes to the battle against corruption”, Wickremaratne pledged while underlining there will be no room for dictatorships in a public institution like SLC.

He claimed every rupee will be spent for what he called the advancement of cricket including the women’s segment. Schaffter backed up Wickremaratne demanding that only a new Constitution can fulfill the norms of transparent governance in cricket which has arguably become one of the most marketable commodities in the country. Wettimuny it is being hoped will serve in his final interim committee after serving in several of them in the past that were eventually usurped by politics, unfulfilled.

“We had 10 interim committees since 2000 and that is proof of the chaos.  Changing the Constitution is also keeping abreast with other countries and what needs to be done”, said Wettimuny. He said also in the pipeline was the removal of an outdated coaching system with the help of foreign expertise.