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Eran Wickramaratne Leads SLC Overhaul with Mahanama, Sangakkara

Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee after Shammi Silva's resignation. The committee includes former captains Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sidath Wettimuny. Silva resigned amid criticism over governance, financial issues, and poor team performance, including failure in the T20 World Cup. The interim body aims to assure the ICC of constitutional reforms while avoiding claims of political interference.

Key Points: Wickramaratne Named SLC Interim Chairman, Mahanama, Sangakkara Included

  • Eran Wickramaratne named SLC interim committee chairman
  • Former captains Mahanama, Sangakkara, and Wettimuny included
  • Shammi Silva and entire executive committee resign amid criticism
  • Failure in T20 World Cup triggered administration overhaul
2 min read

Wickramaratne named SLC interim committee chairman, Mahanama, Sangakkara included

Eran Wickramaratne appointed chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee. Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Sangakkara, Sidath Wettimuny included after Shammi Silva's resignation.

"The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the post, effective today. - SLC statement"

Colombo, April 29

Former Member of Parliament and investment banker Eran Wickramaratne has been named as chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, established with an aim to run the sport's governing body following the resignation of president Shammi Silva and his executive committee.

In the interim committee constituted by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, former national captains Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara have been included, so as ex‑opener Sidath Wettimuny. Administrators Thushira Radella, Avanti Colombage, Prakash Schaffter and Upul Kumarapperuma too find themselves in the committee.

The appointments mark a sweeping overhaul at Maitland Place, headquarters of SLC, after Silva and the entire executive committee officially stepped down on Wednesday amid mounting criticism of governance, financial irregularities and a decline in the national men's team performances in recent times.

"The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the post, effective today. Along with him, the office bearers and members of the Executive Committee of the SLC have also submitted their resignations.

"This decision has been formally communicated to His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Honorable Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Sunil Kumara Gamage," a statement from the SLC had said earlier in the day.

Silva, 65, had been SLC President since 2019, and was re-elected to the top role unopposed in 2021 2023 and 2025. Silva also served as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2025, where he succeeded Jay Shah for being in the top role.

Sri Lanka's failure to reach the Super Eights stage of this year's T20 World Cup, which they co-hosted with India, has been cited as a trigger for change in the SLC administration.

Silva was previously ousted as SLC chief in 2023 after the national team had a poor Men's ODI World Cup campaign in 2023, prompting a suspension of the board by the ICC.

It also led to relocation of the 2024 Men's Under‑19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. Silva returned as SLC chief in 2025, but his seven‑year reign now appears to have ended for the good.

The task for the Sri Lankan government and the interim committee will be to assure the International Cricket Council (ICC) that this is a stopgap measure on the way to constitutional reform. Whether the ICC views the resignations as voluntary or as evidence of political interference will be very decisive.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As an Indian fan who grew up watching Sri Lanka dominate world cricket, this is sad but necessary. Shammi Silva's tenure was mired in controversies. The ICC will closely watch this - hope it's not seen as political interference but genuine reform. Sangakkara's presence gives credibility.
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Vikram M
Good move but I'm cautiously optimistic. We've seen these "clean-up" committees before in Indian cricket too, only for old habits to return. The key is to ensure the constitutional reforms stick. Sangakkara is a smart choice - his ICC experience will be invaluable. Let's hope this isn't just a temporary fix.
R
Rohit P
Sad day for Lankan cricket but the writing was on the wall. From winning World Cups to struggling in tournaments, the decline was steep. The T20 World Cup failure was just the final straw. What worries me is ICC's reaction - if they suspend Sri Lanka Cricket, it'll hurt the players most. Need a balanced approach.
A
Amanda J
Interesting timing with the World Cup co-hosting. Hope this doesn't create more instability. Sangakkara's inclusion gives me hope - he's always been a class act on and off the field. But let's be real, cleaning up cricket administration in South Asia is like trying to dry a wet towel in a storm.
N
Nikhil C
As someone who follows Lankan cricket closely, I feel for the players. They're the ones who suffer when the board is in turmoil. Mahanama and Sangakkara are legends but they need strong administrators alongside them. Hope Wickramaratne's financial expertise helps stabilize SLC's finances. Fingers crossed! 🤞

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