Cornered Sri Lanka Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe dropped a bombshell on the media accusing journalists of financially submitting themselves to the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket and suppressing the truth about corruption and malpractices that the whole country at large wants cleaned up.
Minister Ranasinghe did not name the journalists he accused of accepting money from SLC to hide the truth or the institutions they work for, but he alleged that the sleazy conduct of reporters have thwarted his moves for an overhaul of the sport’s administration.
But the Minister’s critics in turn have accused him of covering up his own shortcomings and passing the buck.
“Sri Lanka Cricket has bought over journalists from the Print Media and it can be in the form of bribes or extortion money. Sri Lanka Cricket pays these journalists to attack me and this is a drawback for me,” Minister Ranasinghe told a local television talk show aired by Hiru TV.
He also accused officials of Sri Lanka Cricket with whom he is having a running battle of being responsible for the current debacle at the on-going World Cup in India where the team has failed to qualify for the final four slots with four defeats and just two wins and three more matches left, two against table toppers India and New Zealand.
“Not me but Sri Lanka Cricket must be held responsible for what has happened to the team,” Minister Ranasinghe said.
Before the team left for India to contest the World Cup, Minister Ranasinghe accused Sri Lanka Cricket of violating laid down procedure and announcing the team on the day of their departure which he said did not give him enough time to comprehend with the fitness of each and every player.
Critics also blame the Minister of hoodwinking the public and caving in to the dictates of cricket officials he is unable to throw out which has made him look a puppet in the eyes of protesters who have called for a sacking of cricket officials since the team’s debacle at the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November, financial misdeeds on tour and a sex scandal involving a player.
When he was asked why he still cannot sack the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket despite so much of corruption accusations levelled against its office bearers, the Minister said his hands are tied.
“They (Sri Lanka Cricket) have given the wrong picture to the ICC and covered up their faults. I have already submitted a dossier over misdeeds taking place at Sri Lanka Cricket to the ICC before I take aby action and my next move is to send out letters informing all member countries of what is happening,” said the Minister.
