SLC elections set for one-horse race

After Shammi Silva and his camp were cleared of legal impediments to contest the election through a backdated gazette that ‘legalised’ their stay beyond February 20, Silva and Co are expected to regain control of Sri Lanka's richest sports body for another two years when the poll is held on Thursday virtually.

It will be a one-horse race for the Silva camp as their opposing camp, led by K. Mathivanan and including Nishantha Ranatunga and Bandula Warnapura, are expected to withdraw from the contest before Thursday to show dissent towards the backdated gazette.

On the other hand, they know winning is beyond their reach as Silva and his team are said to have garnered unprecedented support from the membership after generously looking after their interests during the last two years.

Mathivanan and his camp were expecting to legally challenge the backdated gazette but were forced not to owing to political pressure, an indication that those higher up prefer Silva over Mathivanan, largely known as ‘Mr. Clean’ in cricket circles.

It is learnt that Ranatunga, a close ally of the Rajapaksas, has been offered the Secretary post under Silva in a bid to defuse tension between the two parties and stop a legal battle but he rejected this saying he doesn't want to work with Silva.

Had it not been for the backdated gazette, the former President, Secretary and Treasurer would have been ineligible to contest the upcoming election as they failed to submit the audited accounts in accordance with the SLC constitution.

On February 20, Ranatunga, who heads Colts Cricket Club, spearheaded a campaign against the former SLC administration led by Silva, requesting the Minister of Sports to appoint an interim committee as the term of office of the Silva-led Executive Committee expires on that date.

On March 28, the Attorney General informed the Minister of Sports to appoint a management committee to handle the administrative affairs of SLC. A five-member committee headed by Prof. Arjuna de Silva was appointed to oversee SLC operations until the election.

Mathivanan, the only office-bearer elected from outside the Thilanga Sumathipala-backed faction at the last SLC polls, resigned from the post last year due to his deteriorating relationship with the members of the Silva-led Executive Committee. He was replaced by Jayantha Dharmadasa. Ranatunga, the brother of former World Cup winning skipper Arjuna, was a powerful Board Secretary under the previous Rajapaksa regime but seems to have failed to muster political support to return to cricket administration this time.