AG advises MoS for a complete audit on SLC

The Attorney General’s (AG) Department has advised the Ministry of Sports to ask the government auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit on Sri Lanka Cricket’s World Cup expenditure before pressing for legal action.

Their opinion comes after Sports Ministry sought AG’s advice on the recommendation made by a six-member committee that investigated a litany of alleged wrongdoings among players, officials and associates during the T20 World Cup in Australia late last year.

The Sports Minister appointed a committee headed by Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena and included former Ministry Secretary Kingsley Fernando, retired DIG Sudath Nagahamulla, retired Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris, former cricketer Nalin de Alwis, and lawyer Shalini Roshana Fernando to conduct a proper investigation on the allegations.

The committee found enough ground to dissolve the SLC. A recommendation was made in the 63-page report to the Minister of

Sports to exercise his powers under the Sports Law and regulations promulgated thereunder to suspend, cancel or reenergise SLC’s affiliation with the Ministry.

According to the report, SLC has spent over Rs.65 million to send 16 administrators–which included two paid employees and 14 Executive Committee members–on a joyride to watch the T20 World Cup despite

instructions from the Sports Ministry to minimise costs. Although their travel is now being questioned, the Ministry had still earlier approved it.

Among those who went are President Shammi Silva, Secretary Mohan de Silva, Vice Presidents Jayantha Dharmadasa and Raveen Wickremaratne, Treasurer Lasantha Wickremasinghe, CEO Ashley de