New Sri Lankan board unveils ambitious plans for the future

The Interim Committee, who have been appointed by the Minister of Sports to run the affairs of the Sri Lankan cricket board, unveiled their plans for the future tonight when they spoke to the public for the first since their appointment on the 29th March.

Vijaya Malalsekera, the Chairman of the Interim Committee, was careful, however, to not be drawn into any matters pertaining to the legal status of the board, which is currently being disputed by sacked Sumathipala led board, and is due to be brought before the Court of Appeal on the 4th May. He also refused to comment on the expected length of the Interim Committee's term in office.

He did though outline potentially far reaching changes to the way that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka is managed, including a review of the present constitution by a committee of lawyers, which is already underway, and a clear separation between policy making and financial management.

Choosing his words with the care that one would expect from one so well versed in law, he said: "It appears that certain procedures have not been followed." With particular reference to the construction of Dambulla International Stadium and the fact that the agreed expenditure had been exceeded by approximately Rs 100 million, he said: "There seem to have been some discrepancies and the indications are that there appears to have been cases of financial mismanagement."

Malalsekera announced that Price Waterhouse Coopers have been appointed to investigate into the finances of the previous administration. Moreover, to overcome the widespread public perception of corruption within the cricket board, he proposed that a Trustee Council, composed of respected lawyers and accountants, be set-up to approve plans and monitor the spending of the board.

The Chairman said: "The Board has to be totally transparent and accountable. The public has the right to know how and why money is spent. Money should be used prudently."

Explaining the Interim Committee's terms of reference he said: "The Interim Committee has been appointed to manage the day to day affairs of the board, put a structure in place for the development of the game, and to support the players to ensure the enhancement of their ability. We are not here for a witch-hunt. What has happened is water under the bridge."

Malalsekera shrugged off fears that Sri Lanka's membership of the ICC was in jeopardy: "You can rest assured that we know what we are doing. The lawyers have looked into the ICC's Articles and Memorandum of Association and we are confident that there is no threat to Sri Lanka's Test status."

He confirmed that the ICC had sought clarification on the status of Sumathipala: "The ICC has sought clarification. The nomination of the past President as the ICC representative will now have to be revoked."