BCCSL appeals put off for July 1 (25 June 1999)

25 June 1999

BCCSL appeals put off for July 1

Kumar Wethasinghe

Several applications made before the Court of Appeal in connection with the BCCSL legal wrangles were put off for July 1, when they were taken up before Justice P. Edusuriya President of the Court of Appeal and Justice M. K. Udalagama yesterday.

Among the cases were a revision appeal filed by the former president of the BCCSL and its ex-co members against the interim injunction issued by the District Court of Colombo, restraining them from holding office in the BCCSL, until the conclusion of the hearings.

Another application had been filed by five petitioners challenging the legality of the interim committee appointed by the Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake to oversee functions of the Board of Control for Cricket.

The petitioners are Anura Weerasinghe, Shammi Silva, Jayananda Warnaweera, Kamal Dharmasiri and B. S. Perera office bearers and members BCCSL ex-co elected at the Board AGM on 28th March 1999.

The respondents are S. B. Dissanayake, Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports, Rienzie T. Wijetilake, Chairman of the Interim Board, Michael Tissera, Sidath Wettimuni, Ashantha de Mel, S. Skandakumar, Gihan Siribaddana, Upali Kumarasiri and Dhammika Ranatunge.

Petitioners state that provisions of Section 33 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 comes into operation and empowers the Minister of Sports to act thereunder only where the registration of a National Association of Sports has been refused, or suspended or cancelled by the Minister of Sports.

The registration of the Board which is the National Association of Sports for cricket in Sri Lanka has at no time been refused or suspended or cancelled by the Minister of Sports.

They said that decisions have to be taken in regard to both local and foreign tournaments including a triangular tournament with India and Australia commencing in Sri Lanka in August and a test series with Australia subsequently.

It is essential therefore that this and other matters involving financial transactions should be done and decided by a lawfully constituted body, and that decisions made and contracts and arrangements entered into by an illegally constituted Interim Committee could result in adverse legal and pecuniary consequences and loss to the Board and also cause much uncertainty and disruption in the Board's activities.

Mr. K. N. Choksy PC, with L. C. Seneviratne PC, Ronald Perera, S. L. Gunasekera instructed by Paul Ratnayake Associates appeared for the petitioners.

Source :: The Daily News