Bimal explains the reason Iraan brought to develop cricket

Minister Bimal Ratnayake has explained the reason for appointing Mr. Eran Wickramaratne, a person who does not belong to his political ideology, as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee, during an appearance on Swarnavahini channel.

The Minister emphasized that cricket should not be left-wing, and stated that this appointment should not be considered a political decision at all, as cricket governance is not about managing a political party. This appointment has been made based on Mr. Eran Wickramaratne's sports background, his extensive administrative experience, and the strong expectation that he will be able to restore the standard of cricket in Sri Lanka.

Speaking in a television interview, Mr. Ratnayake pointed out that the sport has suffered a severe decline over the past decade, to the extent that the Sri Lankan team has not qualified for a semi-final in any format of a tournament. There was a strong need for a suitable and capable administrator for this, and Mr. Wickramaratne was deemed most suitable for the task due to his being a former cricketer with a good understanding of the game.

The Minister stated that developing cricket is a national necessity and a national strength for Sri Lanka to move forward globally. He emphasized that the National People's Power (NPP) is not merely a movement limited to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or its members, but was built with the cooperation of various parties, and similarly, working with diverse individuals is essential for the revival of cricket. He further mentioned that it is not considered whether the individual belongs to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the United National Party (UNP), or the LTTE organization, and the government's sole objective is to select the most suitable and capable person for the task.

However, Mr. Ratnayake pointed out that Mr. Eran Wickramaratne, who is also a former politician, will not lead this administration alone. The Minister stated that many cricket legends such as Kumar Sangakkara, Sidath Wettimuny, and Roshan Mahanama are joining him on this committee, and due to the seriousness of the responsibility entrusted to the Transformation Committee, the attention of the entire country is currently focused on them.
He also clarified that Eran has no religious discrimination and will work with people of any religion.