News
No decision on 2024 Under-19 World Cup yet as SLC suspension row rumbles on
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva has warned that the country could lose out on hosting the men’s Under-19 World Cup in January and February if the ICC’s suspension of SLC was not lifted. He also said the ICC wanted to suspend Sri Lanka back in July, but he prevented it.
However, ESPNcricinfo understands the ICC has not yet made a decision on the U-19 World Cup and will discuss the hosting of that tournament only at the next board meeting on November 21. It is learned that there was also no discussion within the ICC of suspending SLC in July.
According to Silva, ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja had taken special interest in potential political interference in Sri Lanka. “About five months ago, the ICC came here when there was news of political interference, and held an inquiry,” Silva said. “Mr. Imran Khwaja met the minister and the president (of Sri Lanka), and told them the ICC would be taking it seriously if you don’t properly control this. This [the suspension] is not something that happening in one or two days.
According to information that ESPNcricinfo has, it is only after SLC complained to the ICC about political interference in November 2022 that Khwaja travelled to Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission. It is understood the ICC did not find prima facie evidence of direct interference at the time.
The background to this issue is that SLC and the country’s sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe have been in conflict over the past year, with Ranasinghe making accusations of corruption and mismanagement in the cricket board, while Silva and SLC accuse him of meddling with cricket.
Both Silva and Ranasinghe held media interactions separately on Saturday afternoon; both parties sometimes making personal insults. In Silva’s press conference at SLC headquarters, he stressed that both the ICC and SLC seek assurance from the highest level of Sri Lankan politics – the president of the country, essentially – that there would be no further political interference in the running of cricket in Sri Lanka.
Though Silva and his elected board are currently at the helm at SLC, their place remains precarious, It is only the result of a 14-day stay order delivered by Sri Lanka’s courts, which reversed Ranasinghe’s appointment of an interim committee led by Arjuna Ranatunga on Monday to run SLC.
Ranasinghe, meanwhile, outlined the sports ministry’s next steps as it attempts to have SLC’s suspension lifted by the ICC. He said the ministry would approach the ICC’s dispute resolution committee first, which is a body within the ICC that reviews appeals from boards on membership matters. If that process fails, Ranasinghe said, the ministry would look at pursuing a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On the home front, the ministry will seek a jugdement from Sri Lanka’s own courts that reinstall the minister’s Ranatunga-led interim committee.
It is Silva who is understood to have sought SLC’s suspension, as a means of putting pressure on the Sri Lankan government. When asked directly about this at the press conference, he said: “I’ve already said this was something that was going to happen for five months. If I can pull strings like that, I’ve got to be an impressive person.
Earlier in the day, SLC’s vice president Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo: “As a full member, it is our right to go to the ICC.”
(Cricinfo)
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the representatives of the European External Action Service [EEAS] on Tuesdqy [10 th February] at the Prime Minister’s office.
Welcoming the delegation from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of further strengthening and deepening the long-standing partnership between Sri Lanka and the European Union, noting the role of the European Union as a key development and economic partner.
The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the timely assistance extended by the European Union to Sri Lanka in response to the recent cyclone, highlighting the EU’s continued solidarity and support during times of need.
Attention was drawn to the need to expand economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the European Union. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of undertaking necessary legislative and policy reforms to facilitate enhanced economic engagement, trade, and investment.
The delegation was briefed on the ongoing initiatives and reforms being implemented by the new Government aimed at strengthening economic stability, governance, and creating a conducive environment for sustainable growth and international cooperation.
The meeting was attended by the Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, EU co-chair of the Joint Commission, Ms. Paola Pampaloni; EU Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation Ms. Carmen Moreno and the representatives of European External Action Services and Delegation of the European Union, and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta and the officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, Tourism Sri Lanka.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The newly appointed Country Director of the Asian Development Bank for Sri Lanka Ms Shannon Cowlin and the accompanying delegation met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Tuesday [0th of February] at the Prime Minister’s office.
Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister extended congratulations to the newly appointed Country Director and acknowledged the long-standing partnership with the Asian Development Bank. The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for ADB Bank’s continued engagement and support aligned with Sri Lanka’s national development priorities.
The Prime Minister also conveyed gratitude for the timely assistance extended by the ADB in response to Cyclone Ditwah, noting the importance of such support in mitigating the immediate impacts of natural disasters.
The ADB delegation reiterated its readiness to further assist Sri Lanka during the post-cyclone recovery phase, including rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, and emphasized its commitment to the supporting the education sector.
The meeting was attended by OIC / Deputy Director General, SARD Ms. Sona Shrestha, Ms. Cholpon Mambetova Country Operations Head of ADB Sri Lanka Mission Resident, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Director General of the External Resource Department, Ministry of Finance Samantha Bandara, Director for ADB Division in External Resource Department, Ministry of Finance Ranjith Gurusinghe.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
A discussion on regulating school student transport services was held on the 09th of February at the Prime Minister’s Office under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, with the participation of officials from the National Transport Commission and the Ministry of Education.
The authority for regulating school student transport has been vested with the National Transport Commission, and as the relevant draft of regulations have already been prepared, discussions were held on the provisions contained in these drafts as well as on new proposals that should be incorporated.
During the discussion, the attention was focused on meeting the emerging needs of transportation arising from the schools, minimizing issues encountered in the transportation of school students by establishing an organized transport mechanism, and deploying the “Sisu Sariya” school transport service in a more efficient and effective manner followed by the new educational reforms process.
Discussions were also held on introducing laws and regulations to systematize the transportation of schoolchildren, prioritizing child protection by preventing reported incidents of abuse and harassment during student transport, and enhancing professionalism among school transport service providers to ensure a responsible and accountable service.
The focus was also emphasized on the need for coordinated action among the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the National Transport Commission, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and the National Child Protection Authority.
The discussion was attended by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, Chairman of the National Transport Commission P. A. Chandrapala, officials of the National Transport Commission, and the officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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