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Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, was dismissed on Monday, just hours after he made startling accusations against...
Digital Desk: Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, was dismissed on Monday, just hours after he made startling accusations against President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranasinghe claimed that the president was attempting to assassinate him due to his efforts to eradicate corruption within the country's cricket board.
The confrontation reached its zenith as Ranasinghe, speaking in parliament, declared, "I fear I could be killed over my work to clean up the cricket board." He went on to explicitly hold President Wickremesinghe accountable for any harm that might befall him, stating, "If I am assassinated on the road, the president and his chief of staff will be responsible."
The president's response was limited to confirming the dismissal from Ranasinghe's office, offering no immediate elaboration on the allegations.
Ranasinghe had previously ousted the elected cricket board, accusing its office-bearers of rampant corruption—a charge vehemently denied by the board, which is the wealthiest sporting organization in the economically beleaguered nation.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) earlier this month, citing governmental interference. Ranasinghe, undeterred by presidential pressure, refused to revoke the cricket board's sacking.
Parliament supported the sports minister three weeks ago by passing a non-binding resolution, urging the cricket board to resign pending a forensic audit of its accounts.
President Wickremesinghe responded by appointing a committee to investigate the ICC suspension and manage the escalating crisis. The strife within the cricket board has further tarnished the image of Sri Lanka, already grappling with economic woes, having defaulted on its $46 billion debt in April last year. The ICC's suspension adds another layer of embarrassment, considering the significant role cricket plays in the nation's cultural and sporting landscape.
As political tensions mount, Sri Lanka faces a precarious future both in the political arena and on the cricket pitch.
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