Sri Lanka Cricket's next proposed constitution will likely feature fewer electors, have seats mandated for women on top committees, and will draw on the constitutions of other Full-Member nations. These were some of the commitments made by SLC's new Transformation Committee, whose primary stated mission is to overhaul the board's constitution and modernise its governance structures.
The Committee's chair also said that once the draft constitution was ready - a process he hoped would take no more than two further weeks - it would then be subject to an approval process in Sri Lanka's parliament. Although SLC does not draw a substantial portion of its funds from public coffers, it remains heavily regulated by the government, primarily through the Sports Law passed in 1973.
The Transformation Committee refused to divulge details of the constitution it is presently in the process of drafting, nor did it commit to specific deadlines on the process. The Committee was at pains to emphasise, however, that although it was appointed by Sri Lanka's government, it continues to comply with the ICC's regulations.
Last week ICC chair Jay Shah had visited Sri Lanka, meeting even with the nation's president during his stay. In May ICC deputy Chair Imran Khwaja and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had also visited the island. At no point this year has the ICC indicated it would seek sanctions or a suspension of SLC over government interference, as it had done twice in the past 12 years. In fact, members of the Transformation Committee characterised their dealings with Shah as "a resounding success" and that Shah was "delighted" with the Committee.
In any case, at least ostensibly, the Transformation Committee has a free hand in the constitution reform process.
"We're now at the end of June, and then we have to get into the process of parliament," said Transformation Committee chair Eran Wickramaratne. "The legal draftsman and the Attorney General's department will also be involved in that process. I'm hoping, very quickly, within a couple of weeks even we may be able to get there. And then by July this would be tabled [in parliament]."
At a press conference on Thursday, the Committee refused to be drawn on specifics, as consultations with clubs were ongoing. But it did acknowledge that more prominent roles for women, and a cutting down on the number of voters in the SLC elections (currently at 60), would form part of their reform agenda.
Additionally, Wickaramaratne announced that David Becker, the former head of legal at the ICC had been retained by SLC, essentially as a consultant. Partly this is for SLC to ensure it complies with the ICC charter through the course of its reform process. But the Committee may also wish to draw from successful international examples of governance.
"We also wanted to make sure when we make the changes that we also internationally benchmark. We have hired the former legal counsel of the ICC itself to be an advisor to us, so that we internationally benchmark to other countries in terms of the constitutional changes. That process has already been done, and they have already been here."