Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage appointed an interim
five-man committee, chaired by businessman Upali Dharmadasa and including
former test opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny, Sri Lanka Cricket media manager
Brian Thomas said.
SLC has been run by successive interim committees -
comprised of people favored by politicians of the day - for seven years.
Tired of political involvement in sports administration, the
International Cricket Council this week unanimously decided to amend its laws
to make free elections mandatory for all national bodies by mid 2012.
Aluthgamage said an election will be held next year.
The sacked administration, headed by former national Test
bowler Somachandra de Silva, was accused of waste and corruption.
SLC, once the nation's richest sports body, has debts of
more than $15 million after co-hosting the World Cup this year with India and
Bangladesh.
SLC said construction costs for a new cricket ground near
the southern town of Hambantota and upgrades to two existing venues for the
World Cup blew out by $11 million to $40 million, creating much of the
financial strain. It sought a $1.8 million grant from the government to help
ease the burden.
Regarding the corruption allegations, police raided the SLC
premises last month and removed computers with information on finances.
Sri Lankan governments have sacked previous elected boards
and appointed administrations citing corruption, but no legal action has been
taken.
Sri Lanka, which hosted 12 World Cup matches, reached the
final in April and lost to India in Mumbai.
