Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has appealed to former cricket world cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga to support the development of cricket in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to reporters in Matara, Minister Rajapaksa said any sports in the country must be free of politics.

Stating that the appointment of various committees does not resolve the existing issues in the sporting arena, the Sports Minister said some such committees have only hindered progress.

Minister Rajapaksa further revealed that former Sri Lanka great Arjuna Ranatunga had provided many valuable advise to him pertaining to the Lanka Premier League 2020, of which many were implemented in the tournament.

Pointing out that cricket had been heavily politicised after 2015, the Sports Minister said the national team which was glorified across the globe prior to 2015, significantly deteriorated after that year.

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said long term plans have been formulated to rectify and improve the current situation pertaining to cricket, and further assured that there will be no room for influence to hinder future progress of the sport