B.H. Perera, better known as Podi Sir. (File)

B.H. Perera, better known as Podi Sir, has been suspended from all duties of Sri Lanka Cricket, a media release from the cricket board announced yesterday.

A controversial figure, Podi Sir held the post of Administration Manager at SLC but in some quarters, he was known as a de facto CEO of local cricket administration.

A strong confidant of former board Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala, Podi Sir was sent to the 1999 World Cup in England as a Sri Lanka team official. Although he was sacked by the Vijaya Malalasekara headed Interim Committee, Podi Sir made a comeback when Sumathipala won the board elections in 2003.

Later Podi Sir shifted alliance and joined Jayantha Dharmadasa and he also managed to be in the good books of Arjuna Ranatunga, during his tenure as President of the cricket board.

One of the first decisions the new D.S. de Silva cricket administration took was to put the controversial administrator away from the board headquarters to place him at the R. Premadasa Stadium management and when the matter was discussed during a media briefing on Wednesday, Perera barged in interrupting the proceedings but was promptly ordered out by the Interim Committee officials.

Following the incident, the cricket Interim Committee has decided to suspend the former school master from services pending an inquiry.