Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama named to Sri Lanka Cricket reform panel in 2026

Former Sri Lankan cricket stars Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama join a nine-member committee to overhaul Sri Lanka Cricket's governance and performance.

High-profile panel formed The newly formed committee includes Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama alongside Sidath Wettimuny as cricketing representatives. The majority of the nine-member group, however, comes from corporate, legal, and political backgrounds. Former Member of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed as the chair of this transformation committee. ## Politician turned reformer Eran Wickramaratne, who belongs to Sri Lanka's main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya and has a corporate background, stepped down from his party roles to take on this responsibility. Notably, he is not currently a member of parliament. Wickramaratne expressed his honor in leading a committee of highly respected professionals with deep expertise and integrity. ## Key objectives outlined In an official statement, Wickramaratne shared two primary goals for the committee. The first is a complete restructuring of Sri Lanka Cricket's governance system, with the new constitution serving as the foundation. The existing constitution has faced years of criticism for being outdated and counterproductive, often empowering ineffective or non-existent cricket bodies. ## Constitution and corruption focus The outdated constitution has also been linked to allegations of widespread corruption, mismanagement, and inefficiency. The inclusion of two legal experts, Dinal Phillips and Upul Kumarapperuma, highlights the importance of drafting a new constitution as a priority. This document aims to create a modern and robust framework for the sport. ## Performance on the field targeted The committee's second major goal is to ensure excellence in on-field performance. Wickramaratne emphasized creating world-class facilities, structures, and incentive models to support national teams. The aim is to help players deliver consistently high-level performances and regain Sri Lanka's position among the top teams in world cricket rankings. ## ICC stance and past actions The International Cricket Council has not yet commented on the government-led changes to Sri Lanka Cricket's leadership. In the past, the ICC has shown strong disapproval of perceived political interference in Sri Lanka's cricket governance. In 2023, the ICC suspended Sri Lanka Cricket due to alleged interference by the then sports minister, despite a request from the ousted president Shammi Silva to impose the suspension. ## Historical parallels and concerns In 2015, a similar situation occurred when the Sri Lankan government replaced the board with an interim committee, leading the ICC to reduce Sri Lanka Cricket to observer status at meetings and place funds in escrow. The fact that the head of this committee comes from the opposition party rather than the government is particularly noteworthy. ## Commitment to ICC compliance Wickramaratne stated the committee is fully committed to strict adherence to ICC regulations. He also emphasized embedding transparency, anti-corruption measures, and professionalism into the organization's core values. This approach aims to rebuild trust and credibility within the sport. ## Committee members with cricket experience Among the nine appointees, a few have prior experience in cricket administration. Sidath Wettimuny, who previously led the 2015 interim committee, and Prakash Schaffter are notable examples. Avanthi Colombage, the only woman on the committee, brings a corporate background to the group. ## Public pressure and leadership change The ousting of former SLC president Shammi Silva followed widespread public dissatisfaction after Sri Lanka's underwhelming performance at the T20 Men's World Cup. Silva had been re-elected uncontested three times despite the national teams' failure to progress past group stages in major ICC tournaments since 2014, highlighting systemic issues within Sri Lanka Cricket.