Harin to request for more time from ICC to put things in order in SLC

Saturday, 22 December 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister to meet ICC next week to request an extension of 60 days from 9 Feb. to fix issues
Says he will take a final decision on reforms in SLC after reports by Sanga and Mahela are submitted
Says there may be an interim committee appointed till all issues are addressed

By Chathuri Dissanayake

Newly appointed Sports Minister Harin Fernando will request for an extension for the period granted by the International Cricket Council to put Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in order.

Promising to bring fresh faces to the cricket administration, the Minister said, addressing media after he assumed duties in the new portfolio, that his first priority is to rid the country of the bad image created due to corruption charges,.

“I will meet ICC on the 26 or 27 (December). I will request for some time to re-establish the cricket board again. I will bring someone who is clean, who no one can find fault with, no one can point fingers at,” he said.

“There are a number of allegations. The biggest issue we are facing is that we have been named as the number one country for corruption. That is our biggest issue. The main thing to do right now is get the country’s name cleared of the corruption.”

The country has been given 60 days, till 9 February, to address the issues relating to SLC and the administration. However, due to the political crisis in Sri Lanka, Fernando is hopeful that the ICC will grant an extension of 60 days.

The Minister said that there may be a possibility that an interim committee will be appointed as a number of issues need to be addressed.

However, he said that all appointments or extensions to service contracts have been halted until proper approval is given after evaluation.

“There have been attempts to make some appointments during the time there was a crisis. I put a stop to that on Thursday afternoon,” he said, responding to a question.

With only six months to the World Cup, the Minister stressed on the need to put things in order. Fernando also said that he will be taking action after reports by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumara Sangakkara are submitted on 24 December. The report was commissioned by Dayasiri Jayasekara when he was the Sports Minister.