BCCSL election case Judge suggests settlement (29 April 1999)

29 April 1999

BCCSL election case Judge suggests settlement

Peter Christie

Mr. Clifford Ratwatte the plaintiff, Mr. Thilanga Sumithipala incumbent President and other defendants in the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Election Case will be consulted by their counsel in order to bring about a settlement in the case following observations made by District Judge A.W.A. Salam yesterday.

Observing that it would take at least six months of hearing even if the case was heard day to day Mr. Salam said that the objectives of the BCCSL which is to uplift the standard of cricket would not be met. Furthermore he said there was the cost that the Board and Mr. Ratwatte would incur and in the interest of cricket it would be best that the parties came to a settlement.

Earlier when Mr. Salam had indicated that an election could be held after the conclusion of the World Cup. Mr. Romesh de Silva PC senior counsel for Mr. Clifford Ratwatte urged Court to order that an independent re-election supervised by three retired Supreme Court Judges or even Mr. L.C. Seneviratne senior counsel for Defendant be held in two weeks time.

Mr. Ratwatte challenges the re-election of Mr. Tilanga Sumithipala as President of the BCCSL, alleging that due to impersonation, the presence of unauthorised persons within the premises, the exhibition of firearms and violence and thuggery, the election was not free nor fair.

The case was put off for May 14 on which date the defendants will file answer and written submissions.

Mr. Romesh de Silva PC with Attorneys at Law, Palitha Kumarasinghe and Harasha Amerasekera instructed by Mr. G.G. Arulpragasam appeared for the plaintiff Clifford Ratwatte.

Mr. L.C. Seneviratne PC with Attorneys at Law S.L. Gunasekera, Ronald Perera, and Hemaka de Alwis instructed by Paul Ratnayake Associates appeared for Thilanga Sumathipala and eleven other defendants.

Mr. Hiran de Alwis appeared for the 2nd, 3rd and 13th defendants.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)