Sri Lanka Sports Minister Fired As Cricket Crisis Intensifies in Island Nation

Sri Lanka’s sports minister Roshan Ranasinghe was dismissed on Monday following his allegation that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was trying to assassinate him over his moves to clean up corruption at the cricket board.

Roshan Ranasinghe was removed from his post ahead of Monday’s weekly cabinet meeting after. A day back Ranasinghe told the Sri Lanka Parliament, “I fear I could be killed over my work to clean up the cricket board. If I am assassinated on the road, the president and his chief of staff will be responsible.”

Sri Lanka’s elected cricket board was sacked by Ranasinghe earlier this month. Ranasinghe has refused the president’s calls to revoke the sacking of the board.

The International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) alleging that it had failed to ensure there was no government interference in its affairs, violating the world body’s rules.