Attorney General prevents Sumathipala from attending ICC meeting

Former cricket board President Thilanga Sumathipala has been barred from attending the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Executive Board meeting in London this week by Sri Lanka's Attorney General.

Last month, the Sports Minister appointed Sumathipala as an alternative representative to Hemaka Amarasuriya, the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) Chairman, despite Sumathipala not holding a formal position with the cricket board.

The Minister's unusual move (the BCCSL is normally represented at ICC Executive meetings by the BCCSL President or Chairman and the Chief Executive) drew intense criticism from the cricket board, eventually forcing five members of the ten-member interim administration and two selectors to resign in protest.

However, the Attorney General was then forced to step in and prevent Sumathipala from representing the BCCSL after opponents drew attention to an unresolved legal injunction banning the former President from holding a position within the BCCSL.

The BCCSL will now be represented by Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya, Chief Executive Anura Tennekoon and Marketing Director Jayantha Kudahetty in the meeting that runs from 24-28 June 2002.