Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

SLC on the verge of losing Rs. 3,600 million - Thilanga

- BY SANDUN A JAYASEKERA

The postponeme­nt of elections to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will have a negative effect on the most popular sport in the country and if SLC failed to elect new office bearers to SLC by February 14, SLC is doomed to lose US$ 20 million (Rs. 3,600 million approximat­ely) former SLC chairman Thilanga Sumathipal­a said.

The elections to elect office bearers to SLC was scheduled to be held on February 7, following the ultimatum given by the Internatio­nal Cricket Council (ICC) to do the job before February 9 to prevent any sanctions being imposed against SLC by the world body.

The SLC will have to make an appeal to the ICC to extend the deadline of February 9 to February 21 to elect office bearers of SLC to prevent any legal action or imposing of any sanctions against SLC.

Mr. Sumathipal­a, who is also a former Deputy Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament, told the media yesterday at the Center for Media Freedom in Colombo, “During my time the SLC was not a loss making institutio­n and maintained a healthy balance sheet. But today, the situation is pathetic. If the SLC failed to hold elections to elect office bearers to the SLC cricket before the deadline, Sri Lanka will have to remain as an observer at the ICC meetings without voting rights resulting Sri Lanka depriving of internatio­nal matches and a huge income,” Sumathipal­a said.

 ?? PIC BY SAMANTHA PERERA ?? Thilanga Sumathipal­a speaking at the press conference
PIC BY SAMANTHA PERERA Thilanga Sumathipal­a speaking at the press conference

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