The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday (06) questioned the non-recovery of Rs. 29 million in revenue due for sponsorship of the South Africa-Sri Lanka Cricket tour in 2018 and It was revealed at the meeting that the money had been deposited in the account of an American named ‘Diamond Channel’.
When inquired by COPE Chairman Prof Charitha Herath, Chief Executive Officer of SLC Ashley de Silva informed the Committee that CID has commenced an investigation into the matter and that investigations were focused on how it happened.
Prof. Herath further instructed Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Anuradha Wijekoon to conduct an inquiry and submit its report to the Committee within three months.
The Chairman of the Committee Prof. Charitha Herath further stated that the assistance of the Attorney General could be obtained for this purpose.
COPE chairman said so at the COPE meeting convened to examine the Auditor General’s report and its current performance for the financial years 2017 and 2018 of Sri Lanka Cricket. Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Minister D.V Chanaka, MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, Eran Wickramaratne, S.M Marikkar, Nalin Bandara, Premanath C. Dolawatta, S. Rasamanikkam were present at the meeting.
The Committee pointed out that 123 out of the 162 approved cadre of Sri Lanka Cricket are contract positions which is a serious question. The Committee also pointed out that the posts of Head of Finance, Legal Officer, Information Technology Officer and Internal Auditor should be permanent positions.
The Committee also recommended that the procurement process of Sri Lanka Cricket be streamlined and that a proper system be introduced to streamline it.
It was also discussed at the committee that the intervention of the Director General of Sports should be at a higher level than the current situation.
The Committee also recommended that Sri Lanka Cricket should develop a proper format for disbursing funds to sports associations.
The Committee also directed the Ministry of Sports and the Sri Lanka Cricket to take immediate action to amend the Sports Act expeditiously.
The COPE chairman Prof. Charitha Herath pointed out that the reason for the massive collapse of cricket in the country was not the fault of the players but the weaknesses of the cricket administration.
It was also revealed at the meeting that Rs. 30 million has been spent to take legal action against former head coach of Sri Lanka Cricket Chandika Hathurusinghe due to the shortcomings of his agreement .
Although Rs. 132 million has been spent for the construction of a National Cricket Stadium and a Multi-Sports Complex in the Hingurakgoda area in Polonnaruwa, the Committee paid special attention to the fact that a title deed has not yet been obtained for the relevant land. The committee directed the Ministry of Sports to take immediate action to resolve the issue.
The Committee also paid special attention to the continuation of construction advances of Rs. 7,764,050 given to the Cricket Associations in the years 2007,2008,2016 and 2017 and match advances of Rs.10,292,337 from 2015 to 2019 without settlement.
The Committee was of the view that a number of such issues have arisen in SLC due to the non-implementation of the Procurement Guidelines and that the institution should operate within an accepted framework.
Officials from the Ministry of Sports as well as officials from Sri Lanka Cricket were present at the meeting.
Although several former officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee were present at the Parliament premises to attend the meeting, they were not allowed to attend due to the expiration of their tenure on the previous day.
