BCCSL Elections: Ratwatte Seeks legal advice (31 March 1999)

31 March 1999

BCCSL Elections: Ratwatte Seeks legal advice

The Daily News

Clifford Ratwatte said that he had already sought legal advice from President's Counsel Romesh de Silva on the legality of the annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka which was held on Sunday.

Ratwatte is seeking legal action after being outvoted 79-11 by Thilanga Sumathipala for the Cricket Board presidency in an alleged election fraud.

Ratwatte in a statement to the 'Daily News' yesterday, said that he came forward to contest the BCCSL presidency at the request of several leading figures in the cricketing world.

He said that on Sunday he entered the Cricket Board Headquarters at about 8.00 a.m and was received by CE Dammika Ranatunga, who conducted him into his room. He alleged that most of the voting delegates of associations were not allowed to enter the premises on the pretext of saying that the representatives of those associations had already entered the Headquarters.

But those delegates who had entered the premises were not real delegates but had gained entrance by producing forged letters. Among the associations whose legitimate delegates were not allowed to enter the premises were Kalutara DCA, Matara DCA, Badulla DCA, Moneragala DCA and Nationalised Services Cricket Association.

At about 8.10 a.m he went to the hall where the AGM was to be held and it was full of delegates. When the meeting was about to commence Attorney-at-Law Ranjith de Silva (Mutwal CC) got up and objected to the holding of the AGM alleging that legitimate delegates were debarred from the premises.

Another Attorney-at-Law Rohan Cooray from Kalutara also objected to the holding of the meeting on the same grounds and said that the holding of the meeting contravened the Sports Law. Then vice president Abu Fuard rose up and appealed to the president to recheck the legitimacy of delegates.

"Then Sumathipala got up from the stage and aimed a blow at Fuard which struck Fuard's nephew, who was accompanying him. Then Sumathipala kicked Fuard on the thigh. Again Sumathipala tried to aim a blow at Fuard but he was held back by two of his supporters," said Ratwatte.

Then Ratwatte had got up from his seat and said that the atmosphere in the hall was not conducive to hold a peaceful meeting and walked out with his delegates and supporters.

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