The Court of Appeal has decided to take up further consideration of the case filed against the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee on Tuesday (Dec. 05).

Accordingly, the court has informed newly-appointed Minister of Sports Harin Fernando to present his status regarding the matter on that day, Ada Derana reporter said.

On 06 November, a seven-member Interim Committee was appointed by then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, chaired by World Cup-winning former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga. It consisted of S. I. Imam, Retired Supreme Court Judge; Rohini Marasinghe, Retired Supreme Court Judge; Irangani Perera, Retired High Court Judge; Arjuna Ranatunga (Chairman); Upali Dharmadasa; Rakitha Rajapakshe, Attorney-at-Law; and Hisham Jamaldeen.

The following day, the Appeals Court issued a 14-day stay order on the Interim Committee. The relevant order was issued by a two-member judge bench consisting of Appeals Court President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Vikum Kaluarachchi, upon consideration of the writ application filed by the SLC President challenging the Sports Minister’s move.

Later, on 13 November, Minister Ranasinghe filed a motion requesting the lifting of the stay order.

Nevertheless, on Monday, President Ranil Wickremesinghe removed SLPP parliamentarian Ranasinghe from all his ministerial portfolios and positions with immediate effect including as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Minister of Irrigation.

Subsequently, Harin Fernando, currently serving as the Minister of Tourism, was sworn in as the new Minister of Sports, while Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, currently serving as the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, was sworn in as the Minister of Irrigation.

Speaking to the media after taking oath as the new Minister of Sports, Fernando assured that necessary legal measures will be initiated to clean up the game of cricket in the country. He also stated that he would invite everyone to work together to help achieve this.

The former Sports Minister has been at loggerheads with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its President Shammi Silva, ever since the national cricket team’s humiliating loss to India at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and subsequent exit from the tournament.