Description
A late 2023 special audit by the National Audit Office revealed multiple alleged financial irregularities and widespread governance failures by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. These included the alleged issuance of 56 visa recommendation letters, including 36 individuals with no official role in SLC, celebrities and relatives of officials. The board purchased 150 match tickets worth LKR 8.7 million, but 76 went unused (worth LKR 3.5M), while 155 ordinary tickets and 9 hospitality tickets were destroyed without explanation. Other issues included inflated allowances, missing vouchers, and opaque procurement.
The special audit stated opaque procurement practices, including overpayments for equipment such as Super Soppers, inflated prices for kit bags without competitive bidding, and undocumented expenses lacking proper vouchers or approvals.
In response, MP Hesha Withanage raised the matter in Parliament and lodged a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). SLC President Shammi Silva denied any misuse of funds, stating that only visa letters, not tickets, were issued only for celebrities and framing this as promotional, while remaining silent on letters for family members.
Additionally, SLC had confirmed to the Guardian news agency that it had launched internal investigations into “various alleged incidents” during the World Cup, triggered by high‑profile misconduct cases involving players and officials.
SLC filed a formal complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, accusing him of misusing funds allocated by SLC to the National Sports Fund, and failing to account for expenditure against media disclosures and RTI responses.
What is the corruption
- Misuse of public funds for tickets, travel and hospitality unrelated to official duties
- Abuse of power in issuing visa‑facilitation letters to non‑officials
- Destruction and non‑use of match tickets purchased with public money
- Inflated travel allowances and per diems paid without justification
- Procurement conducted without competitive bidding or proper oversight
- Lack of documentation and financial accountability for expenditures
- High-level interference and fund misuse involving Sports Minister (Ranasinghe)
What has been done
- Auditor General’s report formally identified serious financial breaches including ticket and visa misuse.
- MP Withanage submitted a complaint to the CID, and parliamentary debate ensued.
- SLC officials, including Shammi Silva and CEO Ashley de Silva, appeared before COPE hearings in November 2023.
- The Ministry of Sports dissolved the SLC Executive Committee and installed an Interim Committee (later stayed by court).
- SLC recovered partial payments from some officials and directed procedural reforms via COPE.
- SLC launched an internal probe into alleged misconduct during the World Cup, including non‑financial incidents.
- SLC formally lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission against MP Roshan Ranasinghe for alleged misappropriation of funds.
What can be done
- Expedite the CID investigation and ensure its conclusions are published publicly.
- Ensure CIABOC institutes thorough investigations into the audit report findings of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
- Initiate legal or disciplinary proceedings against individuals found responsible, including possible action related to ministerial accountability.
- Institute processes to investigate and recover public funds lost through unused or destroyed tickets, inflated reimbursements and opaque ticket procurement.
- Implement competitive procurement procedures with full audit trails for all major acquisitions.
- Maintain regular independent audits of SLC’s finances, particularly related to SLC‑funded events and international tours.
- Strengthen internal audit functions and travel‑approval systems within SLC.
- Expand parliamentary, public and civil society oversight of SLC governance and expenditure, including follow‑up on COPE recommendations.
- Monitor investigation into Sports Minister Ranasinghe’s alleged misuse, and hold political office‑holders to the same standards of accountability.
Links
Daily Mirror – Parliament to debate alleged misuse of funds by SLC during T20 WC in Australia
https://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/Parliament-to-debate-alleged-misuse-of-funds-by-SLC-during-T20-WC-in-Australia/155-263944
CricBuzz – SL Sports Minister dismisses entire cricket board on account of corruption
https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/128405/sl-sports-minister-dismisses-entire-cricket-board-on-account-of-corruption-cricbuzzcom
Parliament.lk – COPE Committee Hearings
https://www.parliament.lk/committee-news/view/3665
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) – Complaint to Bribery Commission against Roshan Ranasinghe MP
https://srilankacricket.lk/2023/12/sri-lanka-cricket-files-complaint-with-bribery-commission-against-mr-roshan-ranasinghe-mp-for-alleged-misuse-of-funds/
Cricket Addictor – SLC lodges complaint against former Sports Minister over misuse of funds
https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket-news/slc-lodges-complaint-against-former-sports-minister-over-misuse-of-funds/
CricExec – SLC files complaint with Bribery Commission against ex-Sports Minister
https://www.cricexec.com/sri-lanka-cricket-files-complaint-with-bribery-commission-against-mr-roshan-ranasinghe-mp-for-alleged-misuse-of-funds/57143/
Audit report (internal reference) https://www.naosl.gov.lk/web/index.php/en/site-audit-reports?keywords=Special+Audit+Report&years=&audit_types=§or=&task=pdfdoc&option=com_pdfdoc
