The controversy over Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly formed interim panel established by the Sri Lankan government’s Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, referred as Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC), has deepened further with questions surrounding two current members of the Cricket Transformation Committee, Sidath Wettimuny and lawyer Dinal Philips.
Several questions have been raised over Wettimuny’ and Dinal’s Inclusion in the CTC, citing their active Involvement In certain matters with SLC, which highlights serious case of conflict of Interest.
Both are said to be part of a team that filed a case bearing CA Writ 460/2020 against Sri Lanka Cricket and the Minister of Sports, a matter still before court. In the said petition, as primary petitioners, Wettimuny’ and Dinal initiated legal proceedings against the Minister of Sports, the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, and SLC.
That not only raises a serious conflict-of-interest question, but also cast doubt over their neutrality to provide objective recommendations, particularly concerning matters related to Sri Lanka Cricket.
Notably, Wettimuny has held various positions under different political regimes.
Under the tenure of former Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, he was appointed as a member of the International Sports Coordination Committee for Sri Lanka to the ICC. This committee was formed with the intent of interfering with SLC’s relationship with the ICC and attempting to install ministerial appointees to influence cricket governance. However, the ICC, as an independent and democratic entity, unequivocally rejected such political interference.
