Nov 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s cricket governing body, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it has initiated legal action against the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe for the “persistent and damaging” defamatory statements made against the cricket board.

In a statement issued Wednesday, SLC said in response to the persistent and damaging defamatory statements made by the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, SLC has taken a decisive step to protect its reputation and integrity.

Therefore, on the 13th November 2023, the President, Vice President, and Treasurer of Sri Lanka Cricket have jointly filed a defamation lawsuit in the District Court of Colombo, seeking damages amounting to 2.4 billion rupees on behalf of the Sri Lanka Cricket.

“The continuous dissemination of false and harmful statements by the Minister of Sports has caused substantial harm to the image of Sri Lanka Cricket, both domestically and internationally,” SLC said.

It further said the Sri Lanka Cricket, represented by its top leadership, is committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and fair play in all its endeavors.

The legal action aims to rectify the unwarranted damage inflicted on Sri Lanka Cricket’s standing in the sporting community.

“The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket believes that this step is necessary to safeguard the reputation of the organization and its members. Sri Lanka Cricket remains focused on promoting the spirit of the game, fostering a positive environment for players, officials, and fans alike.”

The legal proceedings initiated against the Minister of Sports underscore the organization’s dedication to upholding its principles and protecting its stakeholders from baseless allegations.

Sri Lanka Cricket said it will continue to prioritize the best interests of the sport and its supporters while navigating through these legal proceedings. Further updates on the case will be provided as the situation develops.

Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe suspended the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the governing body of the sport, alleging its officials of corruption and appointed an interim committee to administer Sri Lanka Cricket.

The move prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to impose an immediate ban on Sri Lanka cricket at the request of the SLC officials although the country’s Appellate Court stayed the Minister’s order and restored the Sri Lanka Cricket.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Chairman of the Ministerial Sub-Committee for Cricket to spearhead efforts aimed at lifting the ban imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sri Lanka Cricket.