Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe expressed serious concerns about his safety on Monday, citing threats to his life due to his efforts in exposing corruption within the nation's turbulent cricket administration. Ranasinghe claimed that if any harm were to come to him, the responsibility should fall on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his chief of staff.
In a parliamentary address, Ranasinghe alleged that President Wickremesinghe was targeting him for political vengeance, using misleading allegations concerning a vehicle. He explained that a car he had imported was confiscated by authorities under the guise of tax evasion, an action he views as an attempt to frame him with fabricated charges.
The minister highlighted his role in uncovering corruption in Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) and questioned the president's motives for seeking retribution. Ranasinghe's actions in combatting corruption included dismissing the SLC management and appointing a new interim committee headed by former World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga. However, this decision was short-lived as the Court of Appeal reinstated the original management a day later.
This turmoil in Sri Lanka's cricket governance reached a climax when the Parliament unanimously passed a resolution advocating for the dismissal of the cricket governing body. This move was seen as government interference by the International Cricket Council (ICC), leading to the suspension of Sri Lanka from the ICC.
The upheaval in Sri Lankan cricket followed the national team's disappointing performance in the World Cup, where they finished ninth among ten teams. President Wickremesinghe had previously cautioned Ranasinghe against forming an interim committee, warning of potential repercussions from the ICC.
Amid these developments, President Wickremesinghe retains the authority to remove Ranasinghe from his Cabinet position and appoint a successor. The situation reflects the ongoing complexities and challenges within Sri Lankan cricket's governance and its broader implications on the sport at the national level. Ranasinghe's allegations and the subsequent actions taken by the Sri Lankan government have brought to light the intricate interplay between sports administration and political dynamics in the country.
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