Sri Lanka cricket‘s internal politics and administration are set for a radical change after the board announced a drastic reduction in votes, from 147 to 60. What is notable is that this decision was made by the voting members, which which means that the voting body has used its own votes. to reduce the size of that same body by 59%.
These events took place during an extraordinary general meeting of SLC on Friday, during which SLC members “approved important amendments to the SLC Constitution, reaffirming their commitment to fostering good governance, transparency, inclusion and efficiency in their management structure,” according to the board’s own statement.
However, broader political changes within Sri Lanka are likely to have affected this vote. The recent elections focused on issues of good governance and fighting corruption. In the 21st century, the SLC has been seen in Sri Lanka as one of the country’s most dysfunctional institutions, as well as one in which significant tug-of-war occurred.
This new amendment aims to optimize SLC’s decision-making, according to the board’s statement.
“The new voting structure ensures that voting rights are determined solely based on the level of cricket played by each member club, and that all qualified clubs and associations are entitled to a single vote. This marks a fundamental step towards better representation equitable and simplified decision-making.”
Several sports ministers, former cricketers and interim SLC chiefs had long spoken of the need to change the constitution. In fact, a group of concerned citizens, including former players, had petitioned the Sri Lankan courts in early 2021 to review the SLC’s constitution. But it was always considered highly unlikely that members of the governing body would vote against their own interests.
However, a change in Sri Lanka’s political environment may have made that vote possible.
