Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Fired Following Controversial \’Assassination\’ Allegations

Sri Lanka’s sports minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, was dismissed on Monday after accusing President Ranil Wickremesinghe of attempting to assassinate him due to his efforts to eradicate corruption in the cricket board. Ranasinghe’s dismissal came just before the weekly cabinet meeting, following his remarks in parliament holding Wickremesinghe accountable if anything were to happen to him. “I fear I could be killed over my work to clean up the cricket board,” Ranasinghe stated, further escalating the ongoing dispute with the president over the management of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Ranasinghe had previously sacked the elected cricket board earlier this month, alleging serious corruption, which the board members have vehemently denied and are contesting in court. The cricket board is considered the wealthiest sports organization in the financially struggling nation. Consequently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for failing to prevent government interference, a breach of ICC regulations.

Despite the president’s urging, Ranasinghe has refused to reverse the board’s termination. Additionally, the parliament supported the sports minister by passing a non-binding resolution three weeks ago, calling for the cricket board’s resignation until a forensic audit of its accounts is conducted. In response to the ICC suspension, Wickremesinghe has established a committee to investigate the matter.

It is worth noting that Sri Lanka is grappling with severe financial difficulties, having defaulted on its $46 billion debt in April of the previous year. The country’s lack of foreign exchange for essential imports has led to significant hardships for its 22 million inhabitants. The crisis reached its peak last year when civil unrest prompted the removal of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was forced out of his residence by protesters.

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