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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The latest Sri Lanka Cricket board was dissolved by the sports minister on Friday on allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage appointed an interim five-man committee, chaired by businessman Upali Dharmadasa and including former test opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny, Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Brian Thomas said.
SLC has been run by successive interim committees — comprised of people favored by politicians of the day — for seven years.
Tired of political involvement in sports administration, the International Cricket Council this week unanimously decided to amend its laws to make free elections mandatory for all national bodies by mid 2012.
Aluthgamage said an election will be held next year.
The sacked administration, headed by former national test bowler Somachandra de Silva, was accused of waste and corruption.
SLC, once the nation's richest sports body, has debts of more than $15 million after co-hosting the World Cup this year with India and Bangladesh.
SLC said construction costs for a new cricket ground near the southern town of Hambantota and upgrades to two existing venues for the World Cup blew out by $11 million to $40 million, creating much of the financial strain. It sought a $1.8 million grant from the government to help ease the burden.
Regarding the corruption allegations, police raided the SLC premises last month and removed computers with information on finances.
Sri Lankan governments have sacked previous elected boards and appointed administrations citing corruption, but no legal action has been taken.
Sri Lanka, which hosted 12 World Cup matches, reached the final in April and lost to India in Mumbai.
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Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage appointed an interim five-man committee, chaired by businessman Upali Dharmadasa and including former test opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny, Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Brian Thomas said.
SLC has been run by successive interim committees — comprised of people favored by politicians of the day — for seven years.
Tired of political involvement in sports administration, the International Cricket Council this week unanimously decided to amend its laws to make free elections mandatory for all national bodies by mid 2012.
Aluthgamage said an election will be held next year.
The sacked administration, headed by former national test bowler Somachandra de Silva, was accused of waste and corruption.
SLC, once the nation's richest sports body, has debts of more than $15 million after co-hosting the World Cup this year with India and Bangladesh.
SLC said construction costs for a new cricket ground near the southern town of Hambantota and upgrades to two existing venues for the World Cup blew out by $11 million to $40 million, creating much of the financial strain. It sought a $1.8 million grant from the government to help ease the burden.
Regarding the corruption allegations, police raided the SLC premises last month and removed computers with information on finances.
Sri Lankan governments have sacked previous elected boards and appointed administrations citing corruption, but no legal action has been taken.
Sri Lanka, which hosted 12 World Cup matches, reached the final in April and lost to India in Mumbai.
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