In a surprising development, Sri Lanka [Images] Cricket chairman Arjuna Ranatunga was on Tuesday sacked for not "cooperating with the company or the players", and the interim committee headed by him stands dissolved with immediate effect.

Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge dissolved the SLC interim committee and appointed the secretary to the Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation, S Liyanagama, as the "competent authority" until further notice, a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket said.

"Arjuna Ranatunga has not been cooperating with the company or the players. We tried to sort it out but could not and he has been removed," Lokuge said.

"My permanent secretary in the ministry Liyanagama will be the competent authority till further notice," he said.

Lokuge said the present arrangement was likely to continue for one or two weeks after which a new committee will be appointed either through elections or otherwise.

According to informed sources, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited Arjuna Ranatunga for a meeting.

SLC sources said Ranatunga and Lokuge have been having differences for some time. The nine-member interim committee, including SLC secretary K Mathivanan and former batting ace Arvinda D'Silva, was also dissolved.