Sri Lanka Cricket Reform Bill Clears Major Legal Hurdle After Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that almost all provisions of the proposed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Reform Bill are constitutional, according to a report by MDW Live Sri Lanka. The ruling paves the way for significant changes to the country's cricket administration, with only two clauses requiring amendments. According to the report, if those clauses are corrected during the committee stage, Parliament can pass the Bill with a simple majority. Otherwise, it would require a two-thirds majority for approval.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a new statutory body, Sri Lanka Cricket, governed by a 14-member board comprising seven independent professionals and seven representatives elected by member clubs and provincial associations.

The Bill also mandates that at least two of the independent directors be women, with the chairperson to be selected from among the independent members.

In addition, the legislation proposes stronger governance mechanisms through audits conducted by the Auditor General and a Compliance Officer. It also seeks to place cricket under a separate legal framework outside the Sports Law of 1973, according to MDW Live Sri Lanka.

Six petitions had challenged the legislation, including one filed by former Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala. However, several former Sri Lankan cricketers supported the reforms, which aim to improve governance, strengthen accountability and reduce administrative and political interference in the country's cricket administration.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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