By The Pulseline News Desk
Two significant pieces of legislation aimed at reshaping Sri Lanka’s cricket administration and replacing the country’s long-standing counter-terrorism law were presented to Parliament today (6).
The Sri Lanka Cricket Bill on Cricket Governance and Administration and the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) were formally introduced as the Government moves ahead with two major institutional and legal reforms.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the governance structure of Sri Lanka Cricket, while the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill seeks to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) No. 48 of 1979 and introduce a new legal framework to address terrorism-related offences.
New framework for Sri Lanka Cricket
The Cricket Bill was presented by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports as the Government seeks to restructure the administration of the sport.
According to Parliament, the proposed governance structure would include independent directors, while District Cricket Associations would no longer participate directly in decision-making with Sri Lanka Cricket. Instead, they would operate through Provincial Cricket Associations.
The proposed reforms follow concerns over the administration and governance of Sri Lanka Cricket and form part of the Government’s broader effort to restructure national sports administration.
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports was previously informed that the proposed legislation would completely reform the governance structure of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The Committee was also informed that Sri Lanka Cricket currently provides around Rs. 900 million annually, together with equipment, for school cricket.
Plans have also been discussed to formalise the recruitment of coaches and the player selection process in consultation with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
The Government’s proposed changes come amid wider scrutiny of sports associations, with the Ministry also reviewing the implementation of recommendations made by the Auditor General concerning sports bodies.
Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Chairman Eran Wickramaratne has also recently questioned the International Cricket Council’s approach to political involvement in cricket administration, arguing that the international governing body should take into account the circumstances surrounding Sri Lanka’s proposed reforms.
PTA replacement enters Parliament
The second Bill presented today is the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, which seeks to repeal the PTA, a law that has remained in force since 1979.
The proposed legislation is intended to establish a new legal framework dealing with terrorism and terrorism-related offences while replacing the existing PTA.
The Bill had been listed in Parliament’s Order Paper for its First Reading and was scheduled to be presented by the Minister of Justice and National Integration.
The Government has maintained that a new counter-terrorism framework is necessary to protect national security and the public from terrorism and related offences.
However, the proposed legislation has already drawn criticism from human rights organisations.
Human Rights Watch has said the proposed law retains numerous provisions that have previously enabled serious human rights violations under the PTA.
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has similarly raised concerns that provisions in the proposed legislation could allow arbitrary detention, torture and other violations associated with the PTA.
The Government’s move therefore places the proposed law at the centre of a wider debate over how Sri Lanka balances national security requirements with safeguards for fundamental rights.
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