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Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Initiates Historic Steps to Lift FIFA Sanctions on Sri Lanka Football

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The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka has undertaken unprecedented efforts to lift the FIFA sanctions imposed on the country’s football federation, marking a significant turning point for the nation’s sports landscape. After months of rigorous negotiations and extensive reforms, the Minister’s proactive approach has culminated in the restoration of Sri Lanka’s footballing reputation on the international stage.

As part of the Minister’s commitment to resolving the suspension, he made a crucial communication where he had a productive meeting with FIFA’s high-ranking official. they discussed the way forward plan and exchanged ideas to restore integrity to the Football Federation Sri Lanka (FFSL). through Zoom technology on 10th July 2023, both parties delved into various key points to pave the way for the lifting of sanctions and rejuvenating Sri Lanka’s football landscape.

The following points were discussed in the Zoom meeting:

i. Approval of statutes approved by the FFSL on 22nd September 2022:
The approval of statutes passed by the FFSL on 22nd September 2022 marks a significant step in the process of lifting the FIFA sanctions. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has acknowledged the importance of having a proper governing framework in place for the Football Federation Sri Lanka (FFSL) to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to best practices.

To honor the spirit of democracy and promote fair representation, the Ministry has agreed to register the statutes approved by the FFSL. However, as part of a forward-looking approach, the Ministry has also recognized the need for potential improvements and amendments to the statutes to address any shortcomings or gaps that may have arisen in the past.

As such, the condition of amending the statutes after electing the new committee aligns with the provisions of the Sri Lankan Sports Act. This provision ensures that the statutes can be reviewed and updated under the guidance of a newly elected committee that represents the collective aspirations and vision of Sri Lanka’s football community.

The Sri Lankan Sports Act provides a framework for the democratic election of officials to governing bodies, including the FFSL. By holding elections to establish a new committee, the Ministry seeks to provide the opportunity for fresh perspectives, inclusive decision-making, and a clear mandate to govern the affairs of the football federation.

The Ministry’s commitment to amending the statutes post-election reflects a comprehensive approach to the revival of Sri Lanka’s football governance. It demonstrates a willingness to adapt, learn from past experiences, and embrace positive changes for the betterment of football in the country.

By striking a balance between recognizing the previous work done by the FFSL and incorporating improvements through democratic processes, the Ministry aims to lay a strong foundation for a transparent and robust football administration that is in line with international standards.

The approval and subsequent amendments of the statutes, in accordance with the Sri Lankan Sports Act, signify a collective effort to ensure that the FFSL operates with integrity, accountability, and efficiency. This commitment to good governance is an essential component in the process of reinstating Sri Lanka into the global football community and reestablishing the nation’s credibility in the world of sports.

Through this approach, the Ministry envisions a football ecosystem in Sri Lanka that fosters talent development, promotes sporting excellence, and upholds the values of fair play and inclusivity, inspiring the nation’s youth and uniting communities in the shared love for the beautiful game.

ii. Allowing the FFSL administration to run its affairs independently:
During the meeting between the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and FIFA, a crucial topic of discussion was the autonomy of the Football Federation Sri Lanka (FFSL) administration during the transitional period leading up to the election of a new committee. The Solicitor General raised a pertinent point seeking clarity on the scope and responsibilities of the “FFSL Administration.”

In response, FIFA clarified that the term “FFSL Administration” specifically refers to the staff members of the football federation who possess the necessary expertise, experience, and knowledge to handle the day-to-day activities and operational affairs of the organization. Importantly, FIFA’s clarification emphasized that the “FFSL Administration” does not encompass the elective committee.

Understanding the importance of having a competent administration to ensure continuity and stability during the transitional period, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs agreed to appoint a competent committee to run the FFSL’s affairs. This committee would consist of capable individuals who can effectively manage the day-to-day operations of the federation in the absence of an elected committee.

Moreover, to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and adherence to democratic principles, the Minister committed to organizing an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) through this appointed committee in accordance with the Sri Lankan Sports Act. The EGM will serve as a platform for stakeholders to convene and discuss the necessary steps to proceed with the election of a new committee for the FFSL.

Through this well-considered approach of appointing a competent committee and organizing the EGM, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs demonstrates a commitment to fostering a transparent, accountable, and effective football administration in Sri Lanka. The collaborative efforts between the ministry, FIFA, and the football community are geared towards promoting the growth of football, nurturing talent, and elevating Sri Lanka’s presence on the international football stage.

iii. 4-year mandate and appointed General Secretary:
The agreement on a 4-year mandate and the appointment of a General Secretary without further negotiations represents a significant step in restoring football’s integrity in Sri Lanka. This decision demonstrates the Ministry’s commitment to providing stability, continuity, and effective leadership within the Football Federation Sri Lanka (FFSL).

4-Year Mandate: The decision to grant a 4-year mandate to the elected committee reflects the Ministry’s belief in the importance of long-term planning and sustainable governance for the FFSL. A 4-year tenure allows the elected officials to work on implementing their vision, strategies, and policies to develop football in the country. This mandate period ensures that the committee has ample time to execute projects, evaluate outcomes, and make necessary adjustments for sustained progress.

Overall, the agreement on a 4-year mandate and the appointment of a General Secretary as the CEO exemplifies the Ministry’s commitment to the revitalization of football in Sri Lanka. By providing a stable and efficient governance structure, the Ministry aims to foster a conducive environment for football’s growth, enhance its reputation, and empower the nation’s youth through the beautiful game.

Through these decisions, the Ministry seeks to restore public trust in the FFSL and inspire confidence in its ability to manage the sport in a professional, transparent, and responsible manner. The collaborative efforts between the elected committee, the General Secretary, and the Ministry will undoubtedly pave the way for a brighter future for football in Sri Lanka.

Following this highly productive meeting, Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe issued an Extraordinary Gazette, numbered 2342/09, to accept the above-said conditions with FIFA. Consequently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Sri Lanka has been added to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers draw and sent an email stating that FIFA will advise the Ministry on the way forward plan to lift the suspension.

The Sports Ministry of Sri Lanka, under the guidance of the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, is resolute in its determination to foster transparency, good governance, and fair play within the country’s football ecosystem. The reinstatement into the FIFA family heralds a new chapter for Sri Lankan football, and the Ministry calls upon all stakeholders, media, and citizens to rally behind this positive transformation.

Further, competent committee powers were described below.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්බාධක ඉවත් කිරීමට ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යවරයා ඓතිහාසික පියවරක් අරඹයි.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ක්‍රීඩා සහ යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යවරයා සුවිශේෂී සන්ධිස්ථානයක් සනිටුහන් කරමින්, රටේ පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයට පනවා ඇති FIFA සම්බාධක ඉවත් කිරීමට පෙර නොවූ විරූ උත්සාහයක් ගෙන තිබේ. මාස ගණනක දැඩි සාකච්ඡා සහ පුළුල් ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණවලින් පසුව, අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ ක්‍රියාකාරී ප්‍රවේශය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු නාමය හා කීර්තිය ජාත්‍යන්තරයේ ප්‍රතිෂ්ඨාපනය කිරීමට හැකිවී තිබේ.

අත්හිටුවීම විසඳීමට අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ කැපවීමේ කොටසක් ලෙස, ඔහු FIFA හි ඉහළ පෙළේ නිලධාරියා සමඟ ඵලදායී හමුවක් පැවැත්වූ අතර එහිදී තීරණාත්මක සාකච්ඡා රැසක් සිදු කළේය. ඔවුන් ඉදිරි සැලැස්ම පිළිබඳව සාකච්ඡා කළ අතර ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ (FFSL) අඛණ්ඩතාව ප්‍රතිස්ථාපනය කිරීම සඳහා අදහස් හුවමාරු කර ගත්හ. 2023 ජූලි 10 වැනි දින Zoom තාක්‍ෂණය හරහා, සම්බාධක ඉවත් කිරීමට සහ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු භූමිය පුනර්ජීවනය කිරීමට පාර කැපීම සඳහා දෙපාර්ශ්වයම විවිධ ප්‍රධාන කරුණු සොයා බැලූහ.

Zoom රැස්වීමේදී පහත කරුණු සාකච්ඡා විය.

  1. FFSL විසින් 2022 සැප්තැම්බර් 22 දින අනුමත කරන ලද ප්‍රඥප්ති අනුමත කිරීම:

FFSL විසින් 2022 සැප්තැම්බර් 22 දින සම්මත කරන ලද ප්‍රඥප්ති අනුමත කිරීම FIFA සම්බාධක ඉවත් කිරීමේ ක්‍රියාවලියේ වැදගත් පියවරක් සනිටුහන් කරයි. විනිවිදභාවය, වගවීම සහ හොඳම භාවිතයන් පිළිපැදීම සහතික කිරීම සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය (FFSL) සඳහා නිසි පාලන රාමුවක් තිබීමේ වැදගත්කම ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යාංශය විසින් පිළිගෙන ඇත.

ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදයට ගරු කිරීම සහ සාධාරණ නියෝජනය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කිරීම සඳහා, FFSL විසින් අනුමත කරන ලද ප්‍රඥප්තියක් ප්‍රතිනිර්මාණයට අමාත්‍යාංශය එකඟ වී ඇත. කෙසේ වෙතත්, ඉදිරි දැක්මක් සහිත ප්‍රවේශයක කොටසක් ලෙස, අමාත්‍යාංශය විසින් අතීතයේ ඇති වූ කිසියම් අඩුපාඩු හෝ හිඩැස් ආමන්ත්‍රණය කිරීම සඳහා ප්‍රඥප්ති වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම් සහ සංශෝධනවල අවශ්‍යතාවය ද හඳුනාගෙන ඇත.

එනිසා නව කමිටුව තෝරා ගැනීමෙන් පසු ප්‍රඥප්ති සංශෝධනය කිරීමේ කොන්දේසිය ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රීඩා පනතේ විධිවිධානවලට අනුකූල වේ. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු ප්‍රජාවේ සාමූහික අභිලාෂයන් සහ දැක්ම නියෝජනය කරන අලුතින් තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුවක මඟපෙන්වීම යටතේ ප්‍රඥප්ති සමාලෝචනය කර යාවත්කාලීන කළ හැකි බව මෙම විධිවිධානය සහතික කරයි.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රීඩා පනත FFSL ඇතුළු පාලන ආයතන සඳහා නිලධාරීන් ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී ලෙස තෝරා ගැනීම සඳහා රාමුවක් සපයයි. නව කමිටුවක් පිහිටුවීම සඳහා නිලවරණය පැවැත්වීමෙන් අමාත්‍යාංශය උත්සාහ කරන්නේ පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ කටයුතු පාලනය කිරීම සඳහා නැවුම් ඉදිරි දර්ශන, ඇතුළත් තීරණ ගැනීම සහ පැහැදිලි ජනවරමක් සඳහා අවස්ථාව ලබා දීමයි.

පශ්චාත් මැතිවරණ ප්‍රඥප්ති සංශෝධනය කිරීමට අමාත්‍යාංශයේ කැපවීම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු පාලනයේ පුනර්ජීවනය සඳහා පුළුල් ප්‍රවේශයක් පිළිබිඹු කරයි. එය රට තුළ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාවේ උන්නතිය සඳහා අනුවර්තනය වීමට, අතීත අත්දැකීම් වලින් ඉගෙන ගැනීමට සහ ධනාත්මක වෙනස්කම් වැලඳ ගැනීමට ඇති කැමැත්ත පෙන්නුම් කරයි.

FFSL විසින් සිදු කරන ලද පෙර කාර්යයන් හඳුනා ගැනීම සහ ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී ක්‍රියාවලීන් හරහා වැඩිදියුණු කිරීම් ඇතුළත් කිරීම අතර සමතුලිතතාවයක් ඇති කර ගැනීමෙන්, ජාත්‍යන්තර ප්‍රමිතීන්ට අනුකූල විනිවිද පෙනෙන සහ ශක්තිමත් පාපන්දු පරිපාලනයක් සඳහා ශක්තිමත් පදනමක් දැමීම අමාත්‍යාංශයේ අරමුණයි.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රීඩා පනතට අනුකූලව ප්‍රඥප්තිවල අනුමැතිය සහ පසුකාලීන සංශෝධන, FFSL අඛණ්ඩතාව, වගවීම සහ කාර්යක්ෂමතාවයෙන් ක්‍රියාත්මක වන බව සහතික කිරීමට සාමූහික උත්සාහයක් සනිටුහන් කරයි. යහපාලනය සඳහා වූ මෙම කැපවීම ගෝලීය පාපන්දු ප්‍රජාව තුළට ශ්‍රී ලංකාව නැවත ස්ථාපිත කිරීමේ ක්‍රියාවලියේ සහ ක්‍රීඩා ලෝකය තුළ ජාතියේ විශ්වසනීයත්වය යළි ස්ථාපිත කිරීමේ ක්‍රියාවලියේ අත්‍යවශ්‍ය අංගයකි.

මෙම ප්‍රවේශය හරහා, අමාත්‍යාංශය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු පරිසර පද්ධතියක් අපේක්ෂා කරයි, එමඟින් දක්ෂතා වර්ධනය කිරීම, ක්‍රීඩා විශිෂ්ටත්වය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කිරීම සහ සාධාරණ ක්‍රීඩාවේ සහ ඇතුළත් වීමේ වටිනාකම් ඉහළ නංවයි, ජාතියේ තාරුණ්‍යය ප්‍රබෝධමත් කරමින් සහ සුන්දර ක්‍රීඩාව සඳහා බෙදාගත් ආදරය තුළ ප්‍රජාවන් එක්සත් කරයි.

  1. FFSL පරිපාලනයට එහි කටයුතු ස්වාධීනව කරගෙන යාමට ඉඩ දීම:

ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යවරයා සහ FIFA අතර පැවති සාකච්ඡාවේදී තීරණාත්මක මාතෘකාවක් වූයේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ (FFSL) පරිපාලනයේ ස්වාධීනත්වය නව කමිටුවක් තෝරා පත් කර ගැනීම දක්වා වූ සංක්‍රාන්ති සමය තුළය. සොලිසිටර් ජනරාල්වරයා “FFSL පරිපාලනයේ” විෂය පථය සහ වගකීම් පිළිබඳව පැහැදිලි කිරීමක් ඉල්ලා අදාළ කරුණක් මතු කළේය.

ප්‍රතිචාර වශයෙන්, FIFA පැහැදිලි කළේ, “FFSL පරිපාලනය” යන යෙදුම විශේෂයෙන් සඳහන් කරන්නේ සංවිධානයේ එදිනෙදා ක්‍රියාකාරකම් සහ මෙහෙයුම් කටයුතු හැසිරවීමට අවශ්‍ය විශේෂඥතාව, පළපුරුද්ද සහ දැනුම ඇති පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ කාර්ය මණ්ඩල සාමාජිකයින් බවයි. වැදගත් කරුණක් නම්, FIFA හි පැහැදිලි කිරීම් අවධාරණය කළේ “FFSL පරිපාලනය” තේරීම් කමිටුවට අයත් නොවන බවයි.

සංක්‍රාන්ති කාලපරිච්ඡේදය තුළ අඛණ්ඩතාව සහ ස්ථාවරත්වය සහතික කිරීම සඳහා නිසි පරිපාලනයක් තිබීමේ වැදගත්කම අවබෝධ කරගත් ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යවරයා FFSL හි කටයුතු මෙහෙයවීම සඳහා දක්ෂ කමිටුවක් පත් කිරීමට එකඟ විය. තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුවක් නොමැති අවස්ථාවක සම්මේලනයේ එදිනෙදා කටයුතු ඵලදායී ලෙස කළමනාකරණය කළ හැකි දක්ෂ පුද්ගලයින්ගෙන් මෙම කමිටුව සමන්විත වේ.

එපමනක් නොව, විනිවිදභාවය, ඇතුළත් කිරීම සහ ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී මූලධර්ම පිළිපැදීම සහතික කිරීම සඳහා, ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රීඩා පනතට අනුකූලව මෙම පත්කළ කමිටුව හරහා අතිවිශේෂ මහා සභා රැස්වීමක් (EGM) සංවිධානය කිරීමට අමාත්‍යවරයා කැපවී සිටියේය. එෆ්එෆ්එස්එල් සඳහා නව කමිටුවක් තෝරා ගැනීම ඉදිරියට ගෙන යාමට අවශ්‍ය පියවර ගැන සාකච්ඡා කිරීමට පාර්ශවකරුවන්ට වේදිකාවක් ලෙස EGM සේවය කරනු ඇත.

දක්ෂ කමිටුවක් පත් කිරීම සහ EGM සංවිධානය කිරීමේ මෙම හොඳින් සලකා බැලූ ප්‍රවේශය හරහා, ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යවරයා ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ විනිවිදභාවයෙන් යුත්, වගකීමෙන් සහ ඵලදායී පාපන්දු පරිපාලනයක් පෝෂණය කිරීමට කැපවීමක් පෙන්නුම් කරයි. අමාත්‍යාංශය, FIFA සහ පාපන්දු ප්‍රජාව අතර සහයෝගීතා ප්‍රයත්නයන් පාපන්දු වර්ධනය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කිරීම, දක්ෂතා පෝෂණය කිරීම සහ ජාත්‍යන්තර පාපන්දු වේදිකාවේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පැවැත්ම ඉහළ නැංවීම සඳහා යොමු කෙරේ.

iii. වසර 4 ක ජනවරම සහ පත් කළ මහලේකම්:

වසර 4ක ජනවරම පිළිබඳ ගිවිසුම සහ වැඩිදුර සාකච්ඡාවලින් තොරව මහලේකම්වරයෙකු පත් කිරීම ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාවේ අඛණ්ඩතාව ප්‍රතිෂ්ඨාපනය කිරීමේ වැදගත් පියවරක් නියෝජනය කරයි. මෙම තීරණය ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය (FFSL) තුළ ස්ථාවරත්වය, අඛණ්ඩතාව සහ ඵලදායී නායකත්වය සැපයීම සඳහා අමාත්‍යාංශයේ කැපවීම පෙන්නුම් කරයි.

4-වසරක වරම: තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුවට වසර 4ක වරමක් ලබා දීමට ගත් තීරණය FFSL සඳහා දිගුකාලීන සැලසුම් සහ තිරසාර පාලනයේ වැදගත්කම පිළිබඳ අමාත්‍යාංශයේ විශ්වාසය පිළිබිඹු කරයි. වසර 4ක ධුර කාලයක් තේරී පත් වූ නිලධාරීන්ට රට තුළ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාව දියුණු කිරීම සඳහා ඔවුන්ගේ දැක්ම, උපාය මාර්ග සහ ප්‍රතිපත්ති ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීමට කටයුතු කිරීමට ඉඩ සලසයි. ව්‍යාපෘති ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීමට, ප්‍රතිඵල ඇගයීමට සහ තිරසාර ප්‍රගතිය සඳහා අවශ්‍ය ගැලපීම් කිරීමට කමිටුවට ප්‍රමාණවත් කාලයක් ඇති බව මෙම ජනවරම කාලය සහතික කරයි.

සමස්තයක් ලෙස වසර 4 ක ජනවරමක් පිළිබඳ ගිවිසුම සහ ප්‍රධාන ලේකම්වරයා ලෙස ප්‍රධාන ලේකම්වරයෙකු පත් කිරීම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාව පුනර්ජීවනය කිරීම සඳහා අමාත්‍යාංශයේ කැපවීම නිදසුන් කරයි. ස්ථාවර සහ කාර්යක්ෂම පාලන ව්‍යුහයක් ලබා දීමෙන් අමාත්‍යාංශයේ අරමුණ වන්නේ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාවේ වර්ධනය සඳහා හිතකර පරිසරයක් ඇති කිරීම, එහි කීර්තිය ඉහළ නැංවීම සහ සුන්දර ක්‍රීඩාව තුළින් ජාතියේ තරුණ තරුණියන් සවිබල ගැන්වීමයි.

මෙම තීරණ හරහා අමාත්‍යාංශය FFSL කෙරෙහි මහජන විශ්වාසය ප්‍රතිෂ්ඨාපනය කිරීමටත්, වෘත්තීය, විනිවිදභාවයෙන් සහ වගකීමෙන් යුතුව ක්‍රීඩාව කළමනාකරණය කිරීමට ඇති හැකියාව පිළිබඳ විශ්වාසය ඇති කිරීමටත් අපේක්ෂා කරයි. තේරී පත් වූ කමිටුව, ප්‍රධාන ලේකම්වරයා සහ අමාත්‍යාංශය අතර සහයෝගී ප්‍රයත්නයන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාවේ දීප්තිමත් අනාගතයකට මග පාදනු නොඅනුමානය.

මෙම ඉතා ඵලදායී රැස්වීමෙන් අනතුරුව ගරු. රොෂාන් රණසිංහ විසින් FIFA සමඟ ඉහත සඳහන් කොන්දේසි පිළිගැනීම සඳහා අංක 2342/09 දරන අතිවිශේෂ ගැසට් පත්‍රයක් නිකුත් කරන ලදී. එහි ප්‍රතිඵලයක් ලෙස, ආසියානු පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය (AFC) ශ්‍රී ලංකාව FIFA ලෝක කුසලාන 2026 සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ දිනුම් ඇදීම සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකාව එක් කර ඇති බව තහවුරු කර ඇති අතර, අත්හිටුවීම ඉවත් කිරීමේ ඉදිරි සැලැස්ම පිළිබඳව FIFA අමාත්‍යාංශයට උපදෙස් දෙනු ඇති බවට විද්‍යුත් තැපෑලක් යවා ඇත.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යාංශය, ක්‍රීඩා හා යෞවන කටයුතු අමාත්‍යතුමාගේ මගපෙන්වීම යටතේ, රටේ පාපන්දු පරිසර පද්ධතිය තුළ විනිවිදභාවය, යහපාලනය සහ සාධාරණ ක්‍රීඩාව පෝෂණය කිරීමට අධිෂ්ඨානශීලීව කටයුතු කරයි. FIFA පවුලට යළි පිහිටුවීම ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු ක්‍රීඩාවේ නව පරිච්ඡේදයක් සනිටුහන් කරන අතර, මෙම ධනාත්මක පරිවර්තනය පිටුපස පෙළ ගැසෙන ලෙස අමාත්‍යාංශය සියලුම පාර්ශවකරුවන්, මාධ්‍ය සහ පුරවැසියන්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටී.

இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்ட சம்மேளனம் மீது பிபா விதித்துள்ள தடையை நீக்குவதற்கான வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம்வாய்ந்த ஆரம்பகட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை விளையாட்டுத்துறை மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சு மேற்கொண்டுள்ளது.

பீபாவினால் இலங்கையின் கால்பந்துக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்ட தடைகளை நீக்குவதற்கான வரலாற்று ரீதியான நடவடிக்கைகளை விளையாட்டுத்துறை மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சு முன்னெடுத்துள்ளது. இது இலங்கை விளையாட்டு துறையில் முக்கிய திருப்புமுனையை ஏற்படுத்த வழிவகுக்கும். பல மாதங்களாக இடம்பெற்ற நீண்ட பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள் மற்றும் விரிவான மறுசீரமைப்புகளுக்கு பின்னர், அமைச்சரின் சிறந்த அணுகுமுறையானது சர்வதேச ரீதியில் இலங்கையின் கால்பந்தாட்ட விளையாட்டின் நற்பெயரை மீட்டெடுப்பதற்கான முயற்சிகளாக அமையப்பெற்றுள்ளன.
தடையை நீக்குவதற்கென அமைச்சரின் முக்கிய பொறுப்புக்களில் ஒன்றாக பீபா தலைமையகத்திற்கு அவர் விஜயம் மேற்கொண்டிருந்தார். இதன்போது அவர் பீபாவின் உயர்மட்ட அதிகாரியுடன் ஆக்கப்பூர்வமான சந்திப்பிலும் ஈடுபட்டார். இருதரப்பு சந்திப்பின் போது, இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்திற்குள் (குகுளுடு) ஒருமைப்பாட்டை மீட்டெடுப்பதற்கு முன்னெடுக்கவேண்டிய வேலைத்திட்டம் குறித்தான கருத்துக்கள் மற்றும் யோசனைகளை பரிமாறிக் கொண்டனர்.
2023 ஜூலை 10ஆம் திகதி அமைச்சருடன் ஸம் தொழில்நுட்பம் மூலம்; இடம்டபெற்ற இந்த கலந்துரையாடலின் போது, தடைகளை நீக்குவது மற்றும் இலங்கையின் கால்பந்தை புத்துயிர் பெறச்செய்வதற்கான வழிகள் குறித்தும் கவனம் செலுத்தப்பட்டது. ஸம் தொழில்நுட்பத்தின் போது பின்வரும் விடயங்கள் குறித்து கவனம் செலுத்தப்பட்டது.

I. 22 செப்டம்பர் 2022 அன்று குகுளுடு வினால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட சட்டங்களின் ஒப்புதல்:
22 செப்டம்பர் 2022 அன்று குகுளுடு வினால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட சட்டங்களின் ஒப்புதலானது பீபாவின் தடைகளை நீக்கும் செயற்பாட்டில் குறிப்பிடத்தக்க அளவு பங்களிப்பை வகிக்கின்றது. வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை, பொறுப்புக்கூறல் மற்றும் சிறந்த நடைமுறைகளை கடைப்பிடிப்பதை உறுதிசெய்வதற்காக இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்திற்கு (குகுளுடு) முறையான நிர்வாக கட்டமைப்பை கொண்டிருப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை விளையாட்டு மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சு ஒப்புக் கொண்டுள்ளது.

ஜனநாயகத்தின் உணர்வை மதிக்க மற்றும் நியாயமான பிரதிநிதித்துவத்தை ஊக்குவிக்க, குகுளுடு னால்; அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட சட்டங்களை பதிவு செய்ய அமைச்சு ஒப்புக்கொண்டது. எவ்வாறெனினும் முன்னோக்கு அணுகுமுறையின் ஒரு பகுதியாக கடந்த காலத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட குறைபாடுகள் அல்லது இடைவெளிகளை நிவர்த்தி செய்வதற்கு சாத்தியமான மேம்பாடுகள் மற்றும் சட்டங்களுக்கான திருத்தங்களின் அவசியத்தையும் அமைச்சு அங்கீகரித்துள்ளது.

அந்தவகையில், புதிய குழுவை தெரிவு செய்த பின்னர் சட்டதிட்டங்களை திருத்துவதற்கான நிபந்தனை இலங்கை விளையாட்டுச் சட்டத்தின் விதிமுறைகளுடன் இணங்குகிறது. புதிதாக தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட குழுவின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் கீழ் சட்டங்கள் மீளாய்வு செய்யப்பட்டு புதுப்பிக்கப்படும் இலங்கை கால்பந்தின் கூட்டு அபிலாஷைகள் மற்றும் நோக்கங்களின் பிரதிநிதித்துவதை இந்த ஏற்பாடு உறுதி செய்கின்றது.

இலங்கை விளையாட்டுச் சட்டம், குகுளுடு உட்பட ஆளும் அமைப்புகளுக்கு அதிகாரிகளை ஜனநாயக முறையில் தேர்ந்தெடுப்பதற்கான கட்டமைப்பை வழங்குகிறது. புதிய குழுவை அமைப்பதற்கான தேர்தலை நடத்துவதன் மூலம், புதிய முன்னோக்குகள், பிரத்தியேகமாக முடிவெடுத்தல் மற்றும் கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தின் விவகாரங்களை நிர்வகிப்பதற்கான தெளிவான ஆணையை வழங்க அமைச்சு முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்கின்றது.

தேர்தலுக்குப் பின்னர் சட்டங்களைத் திருத்த அமைச்சின் உறுதிப்பாட்டை பிரதிபலிக்கின்ற அதேவேளை இலங்கையின் கால்பந்தாட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் மறுமலர்ச்சிக்கான விரிவான அணுகுமுறையையும் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது. கடந்த கால அனுபவங்களிலிருந்து கற்றுக்கொள்ளவும், நாட்டில் கால்பந்து மேம்பாட்டிற்கு சாதகமான மாற்றங்களை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளவும் இது வழிவகுக்கின்றது.

குகுளுடு இன் கடந்தகால பணிகளை அங்கீகரித்தல் மற்றும் ஜனநாயக செயல்முறைகள் ஊடாக மேம்பாடுகளை ஒருங்கிணைப்பதன் மூலம் சர்வதேச தரத்திற்கமைய வெளிப்படையான மற்றும் வலுவான கால்பந்து நிர்வாகத்திற்கென பலம்வாய்ந்த அடித்தளத்தை அமைப்பதை அமைச்சு நோக்காக கொண்டுள்ளது.
இலங்கை விளையாட்டுச் சட்டத்திற்கமைய சட்டங்களின் ஒப்புதல் மற்றும் திருத்தங்களின் ஊடாக குகுளுடு இன் ஒருமைப்பாடு, பொறுப்புக்கூறல் மற்றும் செயற்த்திறனுடன் செயற்படுவதை உறுதிசெய்வதற்கான முக்கியமான கூட்டு முயற்சியாக இது கருதப்படுகிறது. நல்லாட்சிக்கான இந்த அர்ப்பணிப்பு இலங்கையை உலகளாவிய கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தில் நிலைநிறுத்துவதற்கும் விளையாட்டு உலகில் தேசியத்தின் நம்பகத்தன்மையை மீள நிலைநிறுத்துவதற்கும் இன்றியமையாத விடயங்களாகும்.

இந்த அணுகுமுறைகளின் ஊடாக, இலங்கையில் கால்பந்து சார்ந்த சிறந்த சூழலை உருவாக்கி, நீதியான விளையாட்டிற்கான விழுமியங்களை நிலைநிறுத்தி தேசயத்தின் இளைஞர்களை ஊக்குவித்து அழகிய விளையாட்டின் ஊடாக சமூகங்களை அன்பால் ஒன்றிணைக்கும் ஒரு சூழலை விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சினால் இலங்கையில் உருவாக்க முடியும்.


II. குகுளுடு நிர்வாகத்திற்கு அதன் செயற்பாடுகளை சுதந்திரமாக முன்னெடுக்க அனுமதித்தல்

விளையாட்டுத்துறை மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சருக்கும் பிபாவுக்குமிடையிலான சந்திப்பின் போது, புதிய குழுவொன்றை தெரிவுசெய்வதற்கான இடைக்கால தெரிவில் இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தின் நிர்வாக தன்னாட்சி அதிகாரம் பற்றிய விடயம் கலந்துரையாடலின் முக்கிய கருப்பொருளாக அமைந்திருந்தது. குகுளுடு; நிர்வாகத்தின் நோக்கம் மற்றும் பொறுப்புக்கள் தொடர்பில் தெளிவைக் கோரும் வகையில் சொலிசிட்டர் ஜெனரல் பொருத்தமான கருத்தொன்றை முன்வைத்தார்.

இதற்கு பதில் வழங்கும் வகையில், “குகுளுடு நிர்வாகம்” தொடர்பில் தெளிவுபடுத்தப்பட்டது. குறிப்பாக, நிர்வாகத்தின் அன்றாட நடவடிக்கைகள் மற்றும் செயற்பாடுகளை முன்னெடுப்பதற்கான நிபுணத்துவம், அனுபவம் மற்றும் திறனைக் கொண்ட அலுவலக ஊழியர் குழாம் குறித்து குறிப்பிடப்பட்டது. முக்கியமாக, “குகுளுடு நிர்வாகம்” தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட குழுவை உள்ளடக்கவில்லை என்பதை பிபாவின் தெளிவூட்டல்களின் ஊடாக வலியுறுத்தப்படுகிறது.

இடைக்காலத்தின் தொடர்ச்சி மற்றும் ஸ்திரத்தன்மையை உறுதிசெய்வதற்கு திறமையான நிர்வாகம் அவசியம் என்பதை புரிந்துகொண்டுள்ள விளையாட்டுத்துறை மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சர், குகுளுடு நிர்வாகத்தை முன்னெடுத்துச் செல்வதற்கு ஒரு திறமையான குழுவை நியமிப்பதற்கு உறுதியளித்தார். தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட குழு செயற்பாட்டில் இல்லாத சந்தர்ப்பத்தில் சம்மேளனத்தின் அன்றாட செயற்பாடுகளை திறம்பட நிர்வகிக்கக்கூடிய திறன்வாய்ந்த நபர்களை இந்த குழு கொண்டிருக்கும்.

அத்துடன் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை, உள்ளடக்கம் மற்றும் ஜனநாயக கோட்பாடுகளுக்கு இணங்குவதை உறுதி செய்யும் வகையில் இலங்கை விளையாட்டுச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட குழுவின் ஊடாக அசாதாரணமான ஒரு பொது கூட்டத்தை ஏற்பாடு செய்வது தொடர்பில் அமைச்சர் உறுதியளித்தார். குகுளுடு க்கான புதிய குழுவை தெரிவு செய்வதற்கு தேவையான நடவடிக்கைகள் குறித்து கலந்துரையாடுவதற்கு பங்குதாரர்களுக்கான ஒரு வசதியான தளமாக நுபுஆ செயற்படும்.

திறமையான குழுவொன்றை நியமித்தல் மற்றும் நுபுஆஐ ஒழுங்கமைத்தல் போன்ற நன்கு பரிசீலிக்கப்பட்ட அணுகுமுறையின் மூலம், இலங்கையில் வெளிப்படையான, பொறுப்புணர்வு மற்றும் பயனுள்ள கால்பந்து நிர்வாகத்தை வளர்ப்பதற்கான அர்ப்பணிப்பை விளையாட்டு மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சர் வெளிப்படுத்தியுள்ளார். அமைச்சுக்கும் குஐகுயு மற்றும் கால்பந்து சமூகத்தினருக்கு இடையிலான கூட்டு முயற்சிகள் கால்பந்தாட்டத்தின் வளர்ச்சியை ஊக்குவிப்பதுடன் திறமைகளை வளர்ப்பது மற்றும் சர்வதேச கால்பந்து அரங்கில் இலங்கையின் இருப்பை உயர்த்துவதற்கு கைகொடுக்கும்.

III. 4 வருட ஆணை மற்றும் நியமிக்கப்பட்ட பொது செயலாளர்:
மேலதிக பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள் எதுவும் இல்லாத 4 வருட ஆணைக்கான உடன்படிக்கை மற்றும் பொது செயலாளரின் நியமனம் என்பன இலங்கையின் கால்பந்தாட்ட ஒருமைப்பாட்டை மீள கட்டியெழுப்புவதற்கான முக்கிய நடவடிக்கையாக பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. இந்த தீர்மானமானது, இலங்கை கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்திற்குள் ஸ்திரத்தன்மை, தொடர்ச்சி மற்றும் பயனுள்ள தலைமைத்துவம் என்பவற்றை வழங்குவதற்கான அமைச்சின் பொறுப்புக்களை உறுதிப்படுத்துகிறது.

4 வருட ஆணை: தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட குழுவிற்கு 4 வருட ஆணையை வழங்குவதற்கான தீர்மானம் குகுளுடு இன் நீண்டகால திட்டமிடல்கள் மற்றும் நிலையான நிர்வாகத்தின் முக்கியத்துவம் குறித்த அமைச்சின் நம்பிக்கையை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறது. 4 வருடகால பதவிக்காலமானது தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட அதிகாரிகள் நாட்டின் கால்பந்தாட்ட விளையாட்டை முன்னேற்றுவதற்கான நோக்கம், உபாயங்கள் மற்றும் கொள்கைகள் என்பவற்றை செயற்படுத்துவதற்கு அனுமதியளிக்கிறது. இந்த ஆணைக்காலமானது திட்டங்களை செயற்படுத்துவதற்கும், விளைவுகளை மதிப்படுவதற்கும், நீடித்த முன்னேற்றங்களுக்கு தேவையான மாற்றங்களை மேற்கொள்வதற்கும் குழுவிற்கு போதுமான காலம் உள்ளதை உறுதிசெய்கிறது.

4 வருடகால ஆணைக்கான உடன்படிக்கை மற்றும் பொது செயலாளர் ஒருவரை பிரதான நிறைவேற்று அதிகாரியாக நியமித்தல் என்பன இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்டத்தை புத்துயிர் பெறச் செய்வதற்கான அமைச்சின் பொறுப்புக்களை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகிறது. ஒரு நிலையான மற்றும் திறமையான கட்டமைப்பை உருவாக்குவதன் ஊடாக கால்பந்தாட்டத்தின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு சிறந்த சூழலை ஏற்படுத்துவது, அதன் நற்பெயரை மேம்படுத்துவது மற்றும் இந்த அழகான விளையாட்டின் ஊடாக நாட்டின் இளைஞர்;களை ஊக்குவிப்பதையும் அமைச்சு நோக்கமாக கொண்டுள்ளது.
இந்த தீர்மானங்களின் ஊடாக குகுளுடு மீதான பொதுமக்களின் நம்பிக்கையை மீட்டெடுக்க அமைச்சு எதிர்பார்க்கின்றது. அத்துடன் தொழில் ரீதியான, வெளிப்படையான மற்றும் பொறுப்புவாய்ந்த முறையில் விளையாட்டை நிர்வகிக்கும் திறமைகள் மீதான நம்பிக்கையை ஊக்குவிக்கவும் அமைச்சு முயல்கிறது. தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்;ட குழு, பொது செயலாளர் மற்றும் அமைச்சு என்பவற்றிற்கிடையில் கூட்டு முயற்சிகள் இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்டத்தின் பிரகாசமான எதிர்காலத்திற்கு வழிவகுக்குமென்பதில் ஐயமில்லை.

மிகவும் பயனுள்ள இந்த கூட்டத்தின் பின்னர், பிபாவுடன் கூறப்பட்ட நிபந்தனைகளை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் வகையில் மதிப்பிக்குரிய அமைச்சர் ரொஷான் ரணசிங்க 2342ஃ09 என்ற இலக்கத்தைக் கொண்ட அசாதாரணமான ஒரு வர்த்தமானியை வெளியிட்டார். இதற்கமைய, 2026 பிபா உலக கிண்ண தகுதிகாண் சுற்று தெரிவில் இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்ட அணி இணைக்கப்படவுள்ளதை ஆசிய கால்பந்தாட்ட கூட்டமைப்பு உறுதிசெய்துள்ளது. அத்துடன் தடையை நீக்குவதற்கான முன்னோக்கிய திட்டம் குறித்து பிபா விரைவில் விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சுக்கு அறிவிக்குமென தெரிவித்து மின்னஞ்சல் ஒன்றையும் ஆசிய கால்பந்தாட்ட கூட்டமைப்பு அனுப்பியுள்ளது.
விளையாட்டுத்துறை மற்றும் இளைஞர் விவகார அமைச்சின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் கீழ் இலங்கை விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சானது நாட்டின் கால்பந்து சூழலுக்கு வெளிப்படைத்தன்மையை முன்னெடுத்தல், சிறந்த நிர்வாகம் மற்றும் நீதியான விளையாட்டை வளர்ப்பதில் உறுதியாக உள்ளது. பிபா குடும்பத்தில் மீள இணைத்துக்கொள்ளப்பட்டமையானது இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்டத்தின் புதிய அத்தியாயத்தை முன்னறிவிக்கின்றது. அத்துடன் இந்த சாத்தியமான மாற்றத்திற்கு பின்னால் அணிதிரளுமாறு பங்குதாரர்கள், ஊடகங்கள் மற்றும் இலங்கை பிரஜைகள் அனைவருக்கும் விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சு அழைப்பு விடுக்கின்றது.

Cricket

Pakistan–India Match Uncertainty Could Cost Sri Lanka Up to US$30 Million at ICC T20 World Cup 2026

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Sri Lanka is facing a potential financial setback of up to US$25–30 million amid growing uncertainty over the highly anticipated Pakistan vs India clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to reports from local media and industry sources.

The island nation, which is set to co-host the global tournament, had been preparing to stage the marquee encounter on 15 February 2026 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. However, reports suggesting that Pakistan may boycott the fixture against India have raised serious concerns among Sri Lankan cricket officials and key stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The Pakistan–India contest is widely regarded as the single biggest commercial driver of any ICC tournament, attracting massive global television audiences, sold-out stadiums and premium sponsorship interest. Sri Lanka had positioned the fixture as a major economic catalyst, with expectations of a sharp spike in international arrivals and record revenues across multiple sectors.

While no official cancellation has been announced, uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation — reportedly linked to directives from the Pakistan government — has already begun to impact projected earnings. Tourism industry sources indicate that hotel bookings in Colombo and surrounding areas have slowed, with some early cancellations reported as fans and tour operators await clarity.

The potential fallout could be significant for Sri Lanka’s tourism-dependent economy, which increasingly relies on high-profile international sporting events to drive short-term visitor inflows and spending.

Commercial and Tourism Impact

Ticket sales for the India–Pakistan match were expected to be among the highest of the tournament, featuring premium pricing and early sell-outs typical of fixtures involving the two rivals. A boycott would likely result in major losses from ticket revenue, sponsorship activations, stadium advertising and broadcast-linked commercial agreements.

Beyond cricketing revenue, the ripple effect would be felt across airlines, travel agencies, restaurants, transport providers and small businesses operating around event venues. Informal sector workers — including vendors, drivers and temporary service staff — also stand to lose a crucial source of short-term income tied to matchday demand.

Sri Lanka Cricket Appeals to PCB

In an effort to prevent a damaging outcome, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva has formally written to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), urging it to reconsider reports that Pakistan may skip the February 15 fixture in Colombo.

In the letter, SLC stated that it had learned through media reports that while Pakistan is expected to participate in the tournament, a decision may have been taken to avoid the match against India. Sri Lanka Cricket emphasized that all commercial, logistical, security and operational arrangements for hosting the tournament have already been finalized.

SLC further highlighted that ticket sales for matches scheduled in Sri Lanka — particularly the India–Pakistan clash — had recorded exceptionally strong demand, underlining the scale of public interest and commercial expectations attached to the fixture.

Sri Lanka Cricket warned that Pakistan’s absence from such a high-profile match could have far-reaching economic consequences, including reduced tourism inflows, substantial revenue losses and broader impacts on businesses linked to the event.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 drawing closer, stakeholders across Sri Lanka are now anxiously awaiting clarity, hoping that diplomacy and dialogue can preserve cricket’s biggest rivalry — not only for the integrity of the tournament, but for the country’s economic interests as well.

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Cricket

Eshan Malinga Set to Miss T20 World Cup After Suffering Shoulder Injury

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Sri Lanka fast bowler Eshan Malinga is likely to be ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after sustaining a shoulder injury during the second T20 International against England at Pallekele on Sunday, dealing a significant setback to Sri Lanka’s World Cup preparations.

Malinga picked up the injury while fielding in the latter stages of the match and was forced to leave the field in visible discomfort, immediately raising concerns among the team management. He is scheduled to travel to Colombo for detailed medical scans, which will determine the extent of the injury.

According to team sources, early assessments suggest a possible shoulder dislocation. If confirmed, the recovery period is expected to range between four to six weeks, effectively ruling the young fast bowler out of the T20 World Cup, which is just days away.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for both Malinga and the national side. Viewed as a key component of Sri Lanka’s pace attack, Malinga had been firmly in the selectors’ plans due to his ability to generate pace and strike at crucial moments. His absence would significantly weaken Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling options heading into the global tournament.

With Malinga’s availability now in serious doubt, selectors may be forced to reassess their squad composition. From the current 25-member World Cup preparation pool, Nuwan Thushara and Pramod Madushan remain the other specialist fast bowlers expected to shoulder additional responsibility.

Sri Lanka Cricket also has other pace options to consider, including Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, and Asitha Fernando, depending on form, fitness, and team balance. Further clarity on Malinga’s condition is expected once medical evaluations are completed.

England Seal Series in Rain-Affected Encounter

Meanwhile, England sealed an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match T20I series with a dramatic six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the rain-affected contest.

Batting first, Sri Lanka made a positive start, with Pathum Nissanka attacking early, including a six off Jofra Archer. Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake maintained momentum through the middle overs, but wickets from Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid slowed the innings. Sri Lanka eventually posted 189 for 5, with Rathnayake providing a late flourish.

England’s chase was interrupted by rain with the visitors behind the required rate. After the restart, Tom Banton took charge with a composed unbeaten 54 off 33 balls, while Harry Brook added a rapid 36. England held their nerve under pressure to reach the revised target of 168 with two balls to spare, clinching both the match and the series.

Sri Lanka now face growing concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup, with injury setbacks and form issues adding pressure as preparations enter their final phase

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Cricket

SSC Ground in Line to Host Lanka Premier League Matches

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The historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo could soon be added to the list of venues for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), with discussions underway to include the iconic ground in this year’s tournament schedule, according to leading local media reports.

SSC has emerged as a strong contender following the recent installation of floodlights, a significant infrastructure upgrade completed ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India. The new lighting system enables the venue to host day-night matches, making it a viable option for LPL fixtures scheduled during the July–August window.

If confirmed, the inclusion of SSC would mark an important expansion of the tournament’s venue pool. In recent editions, the LPL has relied heavily on R. Premadasa Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, and Dambulla International Stadium. Introducing a fourth venue — particularly one located in the heart of Colombo — would provide greater scheduling flexibility and ease logistical demands on teams and organisers.

Cricket administrators are also understood to be keen on capitalising on SSC’s rich cricketing heritage and loyal supporter base. The ground’s compact layout is expected to generate a vibrant atmosphere for night games, while its traditionally sporting pitch could add a new tactical challenge for teams competing in the franchise tournament.

The move is also seen as part of a broader strategy to maximise the use of facilities upgraded for major international events. Rather than limiting SSC’s enhanced infrastructure to the World Cup alone, Sri Lanka Cricket is reportedly exploring opportunities to integrate the venue more consistently into domestic and franchise competitions.

While an official confirmation is yet to be made, negotiations are said to be progressing positively, with SSC increasingly viewed as a strong candidate to join the venue lineup for the forthcoming Lanka Premier League season

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