Political interference in sport

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

I am writing this to express my horror at your editorial of 4 May.

It was a blatant justification of a blatant political act of political interference in sport. As a national newspaper it is your lot to demand a free society where politicians are not served by the opportunity to politicise perhaps the only unifier in the country - cricket and sports at large.

It is your duty to remind the current Government of their lofty ideal of a depoliticised society, and urge its realisation.

The SLC administration was coerced to resign by the Government to meet their political needs.

The 1973 Sports Act does give the Government the right to act. The law came from a very centralised Government of 70-77 which smacked freedom of society.

The country needs to move on from those kinds of draconian laws that allow politicians to play ducks and drakes with society.

Your editorial needs to be on calling for its repeal - not to back a blatant political act.

Mahendra Ratnaweera MBE