Sri Lanka co-hosted the 2011 World Cup and has been left with a $69 million bill, with media reports suggesting the committee was to blame for cost over-runs. -File photo

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday cleared the way for the national cricket board committee to be elected for the first time in seven years in line with International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he was dissolving Sri Lanka Cricket's interim managing committee and hoped there would be elections before the end of the year.

“I will sign a gazette (notification) tonight dismissing the interim committee,” Aluthgamage told AFP.

Interim committees appointed by the government have run cricket in Sri Lanka for the last seven years, prompting accusations that politicians were interfering in the sport.

In July, Aluthgamage sacked the committee headed by former player Somachandra de Silva following allegations of mismanagement and corruption, and replaced it with a panel headed by businessman Upali Dharmadasa.

Sri Lanka co-hosted the 2011 World Cup and has been left with a $69 million bill, with media reports suggesting the committee was to blame for cost over-runs.

The ministry has promised it would abide by a new ICC directive requiring all national boards to be elected independently by June 2012.