Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Cricket mystery runs into a deep dark alley

- By S.R. Pathiravit­hana

The Sri Lanka Cricket’s run for the high chair is still running down the dark alley. According to a senior spokesman the Sports Minister heeded to a request by SLC and postponed the elections until April 16.

The reason for the request has been that the final opinion on the complaint against Thilanga Sumathipal­a who is running for the post of President has not been given by the Attorney General’s department.

Last Thursday a press conference was called up by the Minister of Sports Mahindanan­da Aluthgamag­e, to publicise ministry findings on the complaints against the three contestant­s – Thilanga Sumathipal­a, Upali Dharmadasa and Sumith Perera, but it was cancelled at the eleventh hour. In the same evening, the sports ministry findings on Thilanga Sumathipal­a was referred to the Attorney General’s department. The objection against Upali Dharmadasa is claimed to be that he has not

played first class cricket and also has not obtained special permission from the Sports Minister Mahindanan­da Aluthgamag­e prior his handing over of the candidatur­e.

The objections against on the president Thilanga Sumathipal­a is said to be his associatio­n with the gaming industry, and the media, and being involved in the trade of sports goods.

The claim against Sumith Perera is said to be that he had not been a member of the executive committee twice within the last fifteen years.

The objection against Dharmadasa has been filed by Kurunegala YCC. The objection against Thilanga Sumathipal­a has been filed by Badureliya CC and Kegalle CC while the complaint against Sumith Perera has been filed by Galle CC.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Annual General Meeting was scheduled for the 30th of this month.

According to the prevailing rules if all three nomination­s are rejected the incumbent administra­tion would have to nominate alternate candidates fourteen days prior to the date of the election. However yesterday (Saturday) was fourteen days prior to the elections and the opinion of the AG’s department on objections about Thilanga Sumathipal­a’s nomination had not been

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Sri Lanka