Colombo, Apr 18: Sri Lanka's cricket chief today said he would step down soon and believed that an elected board should govern the game and not the interim committees which were appointed following a corruption scandal two years ago. "Interim committees are not good for the game and we have to decide what is now best for Sri Lanka cricket," cricket board interim chief Hemaka Amarasuriya said. "I believe in elected committees with safeguards."
Interim committees have run Sri Lankan cricket since March 2001, when former sports minister Lakshman Kiriella dissolved the elected board, alleging improper bookkeeping and corruption in awarding contracts for construction of a cricket stadium. No charges were ever filed.
The board is usually elected by cricket clubs and is one of the richest organisations in this Island nation. Under the country's constitution, the sports minister has the power to dismiss any sports body and approve cricket team lineups.
Sports Minister Johnston Fernando has made no mention of elections to replace the current interim committee when its term ends in May.
Amarasuriya also said he would step down as cricket chief next month. "Time has come for me to step down when I complete my term soon," said Amarasuriya, who is a leading businessman in the country. Bureau Report