COPE postpones meeting with SLC

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on Thursday admonished and postponed a meeting with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after accusing the governing body for cricket in Sri Lanka of being underprepared for the meeting convened to examine the Auditor General’s report on the financial performance of the SLC for 2017 and 2018 and its current performance.

Following the adjournment of the meeting, SLC was directed to return within a month to inquire into the matter, the Parliament’s Communications Division said.

This Committee meeting was convened to examine the Auditor General’s Report and SLC’s current performance for Financial Years 2017 and 2018, and the members of the Committee decided to take this decision due to the institution’s unpreparedness for audit inquiries.

COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath said that it has been observed that a number of problems have arisen due to the inefficiency of the financial administration of Sri Lanka Cricket. He emphasized that public dissatisfaction with Sri Lankan cricket had increased and that it belonged to the country and not to just one party.

Committee Members blamed Sri Lanka Cricket for not submitting to the audit the relevant documents such as contracts, letters of assignment and commencement of work and due dates for unfinished works amounting to over Rs. 240 million by 2017.

Sri Lanka Cricket failed to submit the files correctly at the committee meeting.

The Committee also paid special attention to the increase in the value of unfinished projects to the tune of Rs. 511 million by the year 2020.

The Committee questioned the non-recovery of Rs. 29 million in revenue due for sponsorship of the South Africa-Sri Lanka Cricket tour in 2018, and the CID has commenced an investigation into the matter, SLC Chairman Shammi Silva informed the Committee.

Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Anuradha Wijekoon to conduct an inquiry and submit its report to the Committee within a month.

It was revealed at the meeting that the money had been deposited in the account of an American citizen and that investigations were focused on how it happened.

The Committee pointed out that the agreement regarding the recruitment of Chandika Hathurusinghe as the head coach of SLC was flawed and that Hathurusinghe has taken legal action as a result.

SLC informed the Committee that Hathurusinghe’s contract was for three years but he had to be removed prematurely as he did not make the expected changes.

It was revealed at the meeting that SLC has so far spent Rs. 20 million as legal fees for the case filed by Chandika Hathurusinghe.

The Committee also noted that the Annual Reports of SLC have not been submitted to Parliament for several years.

The Committee directed the Secretary to the Ministry to submit the reports to Parliament immediately.

The committee meeting was limited to one and a half hours and it was decided to reconvene the meeting in another month.

Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Ministers Indika Anuruddha, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Nalaka Godahewa, Parliamentarians Patali Champika Ranawaka, Jagath Pushpakumara, Eran Wickremaratne and others were present at the meeting chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath.