Imran Khwaja visited Sri Lanka as the ICC assesses its response to the government-led overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket administration.

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ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja has held what members described as “cordial and constructive” discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly appointed transformation committee during his recent visit to the country.

Khwaja travelled to Sri Lanka to gather information as the ICC considers its response to the sweeping changes made to the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During his visit, Khwaja met not only with members of the newly formed committee but also with President Dissanayake, whose administration replaced the previous SLC board and installed the transformation committee to oversee reforms within the organisation.

Sidath Wettimuny, one of the nine members of the committee, said discussions with the ICC deputy chair had been positive and expressed hope that Sri Lanka Cricket would continue to retain its Full Member status with the ICC despite the administrative shake-up.

The ICC has previously taken a strong stance against perceived government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket. In 2023, the board was suspended over what the ICC described as “extensive government interference,” while ICC funding had also been frozen in 2015 after an interim committee was appointed by the Sri Lankan government at the time.

The newly formed committee has maintained that its objective is not long-term control of SLC, but rather the restructuring and modernization of its governance framework before handing over administration to a newly elected body.

The transformation committee, officially unveiled on April 30, includes former Sri Lanka captains Kumar Sangakkara, Roshan Mahanama and Sidath Wettimuny, alongside members from legal, political and corporate sectors. Former parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed chair of the committee.

“Our immediate priority is a total overhaul of the governance framework at SLC,” Wettimuny had said following the committee’s appointment. He added that drafting and implementing a modern constitution would be central to the reform process.

Committee chair Wickramaratne also outlined ambitions to improve Sri Lanka’s on-field performances by investing in better structures, facilities and incentive systems for players and national teams.

While the ICC has not yet issued an official statement regarding the changes at Sri Lanka Cricket, Khwaja’s meetings are seen as an important step in determining how the global governing body will approach the latest developments in Sri Lankan cricket administration.