SLC likely to have new, parliament-approved constitution by end of 2026

Sri Lanka Cricket will have a new, parliament-approved constitution by the end of the year expects Eran Wickramaratne, the chair of SLC's Transformation Committee.

If the legislative process continues smoothly, regular elections can recommence at Sri Lanka Cricket in the early months of 2027, which would in turn pave the way for SLC to reclaim its position as a fully-operational member at the ICC.

At present, SLC's voting rights have been suspended at the ICC board, which has taken the view that the Transformation Committee amounts to government interference in cricket. Sri Lanka was also stripped of hosting rights for next year's Women's Champions Trophy as a result of the Transformation Committee's installation. The Sri Lanka Cricket bill, in its current form, makes substantial changes to the existing SLC constitution, prescribing a 14-member board, of which half the officials will be voted in by SLC's member body, while half will be appointed as independent directors. At least two of the independent directors must be women.

Vitally, the Bill also seeks to create substantial separation between SLC and the government, which only a parliamentary process has the capacity to do. Currently, SLC operates within the confines of Sri Lanka's 1973 Sports Law, and in many of its processes reports to the government. This Bill, however, explicitly removes SLC from among the bodies governed by that Sports Law and, in fact, supersedes that law.

"We think that the process should be concluded in approximately a month from now," Wickramaratne said. Wickramaratne has been a member of the country's cabinet in the past 10 years. "That also depends on the parliamentary calendar. But certainly, this year, we will see the new constitution being the law on Sri Lankan cricket."

The Bill was tabled in parliament in late September, and has been through its first reading. At present it is with the Supreme Court of the country, which had heard petitions from members of the public in the past eight days.

"Since [the Bill's] tabling, it may be challenged in the courts for two weeks by any citizen," Wickramaratne said. "That has also been concluded. There were petitions and suggestions that came through that. The Supreme Court will most likely provide its verdict and conclusion this week. And then it will be tabled in parliament the following week.

"Sometimes when you produce a Bill, there is a question of whether or not it conforms to the constitution of Sri Lanka. There are times when the judiciary says this bill has to pass with more than just a simple majority, while they may also call for a referendum as part of the progress of this bill. If it turns out that more changes are required, we will look at that positively. None of this is happening because of personal requirements, but because we see this as something that will benefit cricket and the country."

As the current government had itself appointed the Transformation Committee, the bill is expected to have a relatively uncomplicated journey through its second and third readings in parliament. The government currently enjoys a two-thirds majority in the house.

"After that, three weeks after its tabling, the debate can be called in parliament for the second reading [of the bill], and a vote could be taken," Wickramaratne said.

"After that [the Act] will take several weeks to implement it, as elected officials have to come through a process. There are appointed officials that have to come through a process as well. That will take several weeks after the SLC constitution becomes law."

If the bill is enacted into law in its current form, SLC will have substantially more independence from the government, in addition to re-ordering its internal voting and operational processes.