In a dramatic turn of events, Sri Lanka’s sports minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, was dismissed from his position after accusing President Ranil Wickremesinghe of plotting his assassination due to his efforts to combat corruption within the cricket board.

Ranasinghe, who had been engaged in a contentious relationship with Wickremesinghe over the management of Sri Lanka Cricket, expressed concerns in parliament, asserting that the president and his chief of staff would be accountable if any harm befell him in the course of his anti-corruption initiatives.

The dismissal occurred just before the weekly cabinet meeting, with no immediate response from Wickremesinghe’s office, except for confirmation of the minister’s removal. Ranasinghe had previously ousted the elected cricket board, alleging severe corruption, a claim vehemently denied by board members who are challenging the accusation in court.

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The cricket board, the nation’s wealthiest sports organization, faced suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to prevent government interference.Despite calls from the president to reverse the board’s dismissal, Ranasinghe stood firm, backed by a non-binding resolution passed by parliament three weeks prior, urging the cricket board to resign pending a forensic audit of its finances. Wickremesinghe responded by appointing a committee to investigate the ICC suspension and the ongoing cricket crisis.

Against the backdrop of a debt-ridden country, defaulting on a $46 billion debt in April the previous year, Sri Lanka’s economic struggles have been exacerbated. The International Cricket Council’s suspension further compounds the challenges faced by the island nation, which has experienced civil unrest and political upheaval in recent times, culminating in the ouster of the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa amidst widespread protests.