SUMATHIPALA ENTERS FRAY, MINISTER PROBES HIS ELIGIBILITY
Ruling party parliamentarian and Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Thilanga Sumathipala handed in his nomination for the presidency of SLC yesterday together with his team but Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has appointed a special committee to inquire into Sumathipala’s eligibility to hold SLC and International Cricket Council (ICC) office as the run-up to next month’s SLC election heated up yesterday.
Sumathipala who has served as president of SLC in 1997-1998, 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 also entered the fray last year, but withdrew at the last moment paving way for Upali Dharmadasa to be elected uncontested.
Though Sumathipala has handed over nominations with a team, interestingly his team has not submitted a nomination for the secretary or assistant secretary, giving a strong indication that he is willing to work together with incumbent SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.
“We have no problem about having Nishantha on board as secretary” said Sumathipala but did not confirm that his team wouldn’t contest the post.
“We are still finalizing the team. The final discussions will be tonight. By tomorrow morning we will hand over the rest of the nominations” he added. Nominations for one Vice President post also has not been given by his team yet.
Ranatunga yesterday confirmed he would definitely contest the election, but insisted he was not coming forward as part of Sumathipala’s team.
“I am not in anyone’s team at the moment. I will contest independently” claimed Ranatunga who was also the secretary of the interim committee which controlled SLC since 2009 till last year under the chairmanship of D.S. de Silva.
Sumathipala’s position as a ruling party politician is likely to create an issue with ICC which has approved new rules to rid political interference in their member bodies such as SLC. These rules are scheduled to come into effect from June this year.
Meanwhile the cricket election drama entered a new phase when several local cricket clubs handed over a petition against Sumathipala to the Sports Minister yesterday soon after Sumathipala handed in his nomination papers to the Director General of Sports Ran- jani Jayakody last morning.
Minister Aluthgamage said that the clubs had made several allegations against Sumathipala and have asked the Minister to reject his nomination.
Sources said that Badureliya CC, Sebastianites and Kegalle CC have made these complaints.
“I received a written complaint from several clubs and I immediately ordered the Ministry Secretary to conduct an inquiry. The Secretary will appoint the committee and will give me a report very soon” Minister told “Daily Mirror” yesterday. Sports Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrama will head the committee and is likely to include officials from Attorney General’s Department and National Sports Council.
Sources said that among the charges against Sumathipala are his involvement with a media organization, involvement with marketing sports goods and involvement with the betting industry. All these three alleged involvements, if true would violate the Sri Lanka Sports Law if he is elected.
Sumathipala is the Managing Director of Sri Lanka’s One of the largest Private Corporate firms Sumathi Group. Apart from that, Sumathipala cannot become a member of the ICC Board of Directors until he faces an inquiry by ICC, according to a letter sent to Sumathipala by ICC’s then President Eshan Mani on August 16, 2005.
In 2009, ICC requested SLC to remove Sumathipala’s name from a list of offi- cials to be felicitated with ICC Centenary Medal following concerns raised by the ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), according to a communication between ICC and SLC, a copy of which is in the possession of “Daily Mirror”.
According to clauses in section 7 of the ICC Code of Ethics, no one with connection to the gambling industry or even having family members connected to that industry can become an ICC Director. Sumathipala however rejected all allegations as baseless. “I have no issue to hold office at SLC or ICC. These are false accusations by interested parties. They usually surface only at election time to tarnish my name” said Sumathipala.
In Sumathipala’s team, former SLC President Mohan de Silva submitted nominations for Vice President post, Former Seylan Bank Chairman and eminent financier Eastman Narangoda has handed in nominations for the post of Treasurer while Irwin Jayawardene will contest for Assistant Treasurer. Nominations for March 30 elections close today.