by Prasad Gunewardene
It is now a well known fact in public that the proposed cricket stadium in Dambulla has been hatched in secrecy by officials in the Cricket Board, and the government has admitted that it was kept in the dark. The question that is now being asked in cricket circles is what action would the government take against those officials who are responsible for that act. Investigations reveal that the land allocated for this stadium belonged to a temple. Neither the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs, the Public Trustee nor the Divisional Secretary in that area had been contacted to get prior approval to obtain this land. Just because a land comes under the purview of a temple, parties cannot make deals without following procedures laid down in the law. First and foremost, temple land cannot be sold at the sole descretion of monks who occupy those temples.

Cricket Board figures who are said to be responsible for keeping the government in the dark on this project have even laid the foundation stone without the approval of former Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake. This position was endorsed by his successor, Minister Lakshman Kiriella. As the government claims that this project had been planned and implemented in an illegal manner, cricket loving public wants the government to intervene and take necessary action against those who are responsible for this arbitrary act. This Dambulla stadium issue cropped up three weeks ago but, the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga is yet to take action.

Sri Lankan cricket has come in for ridicule during the past three years with many a controversy emerging from time to time over the conduct of those who represent the Board. All these events took place under the PA government. Even former Minister Dissanayake was at the centre of those controversies on many occasions. After the Kumaratunga administration came in for the second time, the biggest controversy broke out between the top men in the Board - Thilanga Sumathipala and Dhammika Ranatunga. This battle is known in cricket circles as "Sony vs Worldtel". It is also similar to the famous Channel 9 controversy where former Presidential Media Advisor Sanath Gunetilleke and his long time friend Lakshman Hulugalle fell apart to wash dirty linen in public.

Sumathipala and Ranatunga were close friends who fought to ensure that Clifford Ratwatte was out of the race in the contest for the Board Presidency. Lately, the duo have fallen out like Sanath and Lakshman and have started to sling mud at each other. Be that as it may, valuable information about misdeeds have surfaced which are a disgrace to the gentleman’s game. These allegations need investigation by the state. The government should make those responsible to answer questions on matters that have taken place under their stewardship. It is reported that 1,000 tickets sold for the World Cup final have not been accounted for. There are rumours that these tickets have been sold at black market rates and big money made. Those who obtained tickets for the World Cup final in Britain were entitled to get visa to enter Britain. It is up to the government to investigate as to who obtained these black market tickets from the Board and how many who went for the final match have returned to Sri Lanka.

Cricket Board sources say that Minister Kiriella should order an inquiry into the purchase of the vehicle by the Board which was actually imported duty free for the use of a private secretary of a PA minister. This vehicle purchased at double the market value by the Board is reported to have gone into the hands of a motor spares dealer in Panchikawatte. Experienced cricketers who once served the Cricket Board are shocked at these deeds and misdeeds of the Board officials. Revenge has been the order of the day. Those clubs which did not support the candidature of incumbent President Sumathipala are at the receiving end. These clubs are not given their annual grants. The clubs from Baduraliya and Kalutara demonstrated outside the Board this week in protest against this step-motherly treatment and Sumathipala was a virtual prisoner inside the headquarters that day.

Another Cricket Board official, known as a wheeler dealer businessman and a casino man who was an unsuccessful candidate at the last general election is being used to fix a reputed Sri Lankan cricketer now in retirement on match fixing charges. It is said that this official who has experience in only casinos having not held a ball or a bat in his life is now in touch with Indian bookmakers to fulfill this task for one of the captains in this "Sony vs Worldtel" encounter. This retired cricketer close to one of the captains in this battle is said to have played the game in a honest way both inside and outside the field. When this cricketer entered the Hilton Hotel this week for Susanthika Jayasinghe’s home coming, politicians from the green and blue camps present surrounded him and assured their fullest support to this man who led the country into many a victory of world repute during his eighteen year cricketing career for the nation. This is clear evidence that this man had played the game as a gentleman for his country and retired gracefully with honours. This will certainly make it impossible for the casino king official to fix this reputed cricketer.

The dirty linen washed by the captains of the Sony and Worldtel teams and the dirt that has emerged from time to time during the past three years after those who have played the game at the highest level were deprived of representing the Board, those badly affected are the young Sri Lankan cricketers who are going up the ladder winning many international cups for the country. When they were in Pakistan after a first test victory two years ago, they were psychologically affected by the news that broke out about a controversy in the Board between the Interim Board Chairman, Rienzie Wijetilleke and former Minister S. B. Dissanayake. This led to a defeat in the test that followed.

The cricketers are now preparing for a lengthy tour of South Africa. Those concerned should not only see to their physical fitness but also create an environment to make them mentally and psychologically fit. The ongoing battle between Sumathipala and Ranatunga will certainly affect the team psychologically. They should be free to concentrate on the game if Sri Lanka is to perform well against the tough South Africans. This atmosphere could only be created by the Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella and President Kumaratunga.

Cricketers want experienced people to handle cricket and not casino men and bookmakers who have other interests. The Attorney General’s advice could be sought if the government is keen to resolve this dispute by dissolving the Cricket Board. Minister Kiriella could make necessary recommendations then for the President to sanction. Later the Sports Law could be amended to appoint an Independent Board to handle cricket and cricketers pray it should happen early to safeguard the gentleman’s game.