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'hilanga battles Sports Minister
Wednesday, 30 March 2005 - 1:14 AM SL Time
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Sri Lanka Cricket's president elect Thilanga Sumathipala seems to have decided not to bow down to the wishes of the government, to hand over the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket, when he decided to close down the cricket headquarters at Maitland Place, on Monday. The cricket office was closed at 11 am, not permitting the government appointed interim committee to take over the administration of the game. All Sri Lanka Cricket's employees were also sent on a week long paid holiday, starting Monday.
`From Monday morning the employees of Sri Lanka Cricket have been forced to go through tremendous mental trauma. The telephone operator has been getting abusive phone calls, the CEO of the board has been under tremendous pressure and therefore I decided to send all employees on a weeks paid holiday until things calm down and we convince the minister by presenting our side of the story against all allegations,` Sumathipala told 'The Island' on Monday.
`If you carefully analyse the law, when the registration of a national body is cancelled, they can only take over our movable assets, but they can't touch our immovable assets,` Sumathipala further said.
The present scenario at Sri Lanka Cricket is something similar to what happened with the Athletics Association last year, when the athletic officials continued their work in the premises after the Minister of Sports cancelled their registration last year.
Minister threatens to take legal action
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, reacted angrily to the developments at the board, blaming Sumathipala & Co. for not allowing a smooth transition. `The administration of cricket is in a sad state and that's why I decided to appoint an Interim administration. People are acting as if cricket is their parents' property and are trying to cling onto power.`
`I am not allowing cricket to suffer. These individuals are carrying out their own agendas and they have found out ways and means to get away with things. Already a complaint has been lodged with the Police and I'll be taking appropriate legal action to stop this menace,` the Minister said.
While the Interim Committee had lodged a complaint against the sacked cricket officials with the Cinnamon Garden Police, the security division of SLC also had lodged a complaint against Damian Fernando for threatening security officials. Sources said that Fernando, a member of the Interim Committee and the brother-in-law of Minister Kumaratunga, had allegedly tried to force his way through to the board and had threatened the employees when he was prevented from doing so.
Interim Committee unable to function
Meanwhile, the Interim Committee headed by Jayantha Dharmadasa issuing a media release said, that their efforts to commence work at cricket headquarters have been disrupted. `When we called at the Sri Lanka Cricket office at Maitland Place, security prevented us from entering the premises, which apparently had been locked,` the release signed by chairman Dharmadasa and secretary Tryphon Mirando said.
`The Interim Committee is very much concerned about the situation, as there are three Sri Lanka teams presently participating in important tours`85 We have advised the Hon. Minister of this situation, which has arisen as a result of the most irresponsible actions of the former officials of SLC, whom we hold totally responsible for the damage it may cause to Sri Lanka cricket and the country,` the release further said.
Dharmadasa responds
Meanwhile, responding to a news item that appeared on page 16 of 'The Island' issue of March 25th, newly appointed chairman of the Cricket Interim Committee, Jayantha Dharmadasa says that he withdrew his nomination on the morning of the 2000 cricket board elections after he was advised by his legal team not to contest the elections.
Dhamradasa states that there were several contentious issues in the run-up to the elections and although his team had brought these to the notice of the Director of Sports, Milton Amarasinghe, in writing, he didn't even receive a response to the correspondence.
He also maintains that had he contested the election, it would have been a close contest between him and Thilanga Sumathipala.
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leo_m
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 45
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29 Mar 2005 19:24:34 GMT Report for Abuse
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This state of affairs is nothing to do with Sumathipala or Sri Lanka Cricket. It is more than that. It is a reflection how the Sri Laakan society perceives instructions from higher ups. Look at the general strikes which crop up instantly. Look at how corrupt our society is?.
Rather than directing the energy at things that are lower in the priority list all of us should concentrate on how corrupt our society is????
I really do not know how to do that but i guess one way is to send genuine politicians to the Parliament and also write about these aspects rather than writing about what LTTE is doing and not doing. Let us clean up our act before we try to regain NORTH and EAST |
Deanna
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1
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30 Mar 2005 10:12:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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| It disgust me to read about this man Thilanga. Just who on earth does he think he is..? He acts as if he owns the cricket board and players of Sri Lanka. It is so sad to see how these people who have money push their way to such low levels to get what they want. It is because of people like this that we Sri Lankans become a laughing stock to the rest of the world. |
hjpriyan
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5
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30 Mar 2005 12:50:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thilanga has shown what he really is, a 'thug' and a 'mafia boss'. Thilanga thug and his supporting goons (recently elected officials at an null & void SL Cricket AGM) should be arrested for the illegal take over of the Cricket Board.
Thilanga and his goons cling to the SL Cricket Board not for improving Cricket, but for money, power and corruption.
Thilanga, with your Goons go to hell !!
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jay-r
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 827
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30 Mar 2005 14:56:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Thilanga Sumathipala again shows that he is above the law by willfully disobeying the Minister's order.Minister may be wrong in canceling the AGM to elect members.But any law abiding citizen has the obligation to seek for a justifiable solution rather than holding the meeting.Thilanga,if you have an atom of a brain,pl seek justice through the Legal system,otherwise the general masses will be compelled to believe that you are a THUG who has connections to the underworld mafia,who resorts to high handed activities.Let the Minister hold and inquiry and reveal the facts about of misappropriation of funds.Public has a right to know this,because its people's money earned here or abroad.BE A GENTLEMAN! IF YOU ARE!! |
ravi_r
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 573
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30 Mar 2005 15:55:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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Someone ought to bump off this thug. He wants to mismanage SLC and loot what is not his mothers' inheritance!
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