Despite Sports Ministry’s appointment of an
Interim Committee to run the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket, the
Annual General Meeting of the cricket board was held on Sunday
as scheduled at it’s headquarters and Thilanga Sumathipala was
elected uncontested as the chairman of the board. Sumathipala
speaking to ‘The Island’ said that 84 percent of SLC’s
membership turned out for the elections where top posts of the
Executive Committee were elected uncontested.
"What has happened is that Sri Lanka Cricket’s
registration with the Sports Ministry has been temporarily
cancelled. Therefore we don’t have national status at the
moment. The Ministry has appointed an Interim Committee to
function as the national body, but we will carry out the wishes
of our member clubs and continue the work of our association. We
are also hoping to negotiate with the minister to restore our
registration. I am confident we can convince the minister when
we tell him our side of the story" Sumathipala said.
He also refrained from criticising the ministry
officials or those who have taken over the administration of the
governing body, but indicated that the new committee could face
several administrative restrictions in carrying out their
activities.
Sri Lanka’s World Cup hero Aravinda de Silva and
Trevor Rajaratnam were elected as the Vice-Presidents while
Sumathipala’s close confidant Ravin Wickramaratne was elected as
the Secretary with Nuzki Mohammed getting elected as the
treasurer. Controversial administrator Lucien Merrinage was
elected as assistant treasurer. Bandula Dissanayake will be the
assistant secretary.
Kalu too in the Ex-Co
Romesh Kaluwitharana, who retired from
international cricket last year, also has been drafted into the
new committee and the former wicketkeeper batsman will function
as the chairman of the Umpires Committee. Commenting on
Kaluwitharana’s appointment, Sumathipala said that through the
former cricketer he wanted to create a dynamic umpiring
committee and hoped one day Sri Lanka will have several
representations at the ICC’s elite panel, which doesn’t include
any Sri Lankans at the moment.
"The players have a right to get involved in
administrations. Probably they can’t handle some positions in
marketing or accounting, but there are areas they could come in
and I welcome Romesh’s presence in the committee, " Sumathipala
further said.
