Sumathipala elected Sri Lankan board president

Thilanga Sumathipala was elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) for the third time, as Sri Lankan cricket ended a 26-month period of control by government-appointed committees with the first elections for three years on Friday.

Sumathipala, a leading businessman and a cricket administrator with personal ambitions of heading the International Cricket Council (ICC), completed a landslide victory against Arjuna Ranatunga, claiming 121 of the 138 votes cast by registered clubs and associations.

The election ended a month-long bickering campaign between the two bitter rivals, who have been at loggerheads since Sumathipala sacked Ranatunga's brother, Dammika, from the chief executive position in the board in 2000.

Ranatunga, who managed just seven votes and was pushed to third place in the three-cornered fight, accused Sumathipala of corruption and rejected an offer to work with him. "I am an honest person and I can't work with people who are corrupt."

Ranatunga's typically outspoken approach, which centered on the need to wipe out corruption, led to Sumathipala threatening a US$5 million lawsuit for defamation. Both claim to be ready to fight for their reputations in the courts.

But there was always only going to be one winner. Although Ranatunga enjoys a popular following among the general public, only seven clubs pledged their support. Even his own club, the Sinhalese Sports Club, decided to support Sumathipala.

Sumathipala's National Development Plan, on the other hand, is a cohesive and ambitious blueprint for cricket development. It secured overwhelming support among the clubs, who have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of long-term thinking in the last two years.

The election, held at the ministry of sports amid tight security, also saw Aravinda de Silva elected vice-president of the Sumathipala led executive committee. Mohan de Silva was elected uncontested as the secretary.

Sumathipala is no stranger to cricket administration. Both his previous terms as president were cut short by the government following legal wrangles after a particularly ugly election in 1999 and for allegedly violating the Sports Law in 2001. He has also served as vice-president.

The first job of the incoming president will be to secure a suitable permanent replacement for coach Dav Whatmore, as well as a physiotherapist and fitness trainer. Sumathipala has promised a foreign coach within 30 days, but no candidates have come forward so far.

The financial state of the cricket board is also a serious concern. Last week, the BCCSL announced a 93 million rupee (US$940,000) loss in 2002, due primarily to the lack of inbound tours but also because of increased player salaries.

But those factors pale into insignificance following a recent Singapore tribunal decision that the BCCSL is liable to pay damages to WSG Nimbus after the premature cancellation of a multi-million dollar television deal in 2001.

Aside from the legal costs and a monetary claim already awarded, which amounts to nearly US$1 million, WSG could press for potentially crippling damages. Sumathipala, who negotiated the original deal with WSG in 2000, will have to negotiate a settlement that protects Sri Lanka's financial future.