Colombo clubs lodge appeal with president
The Colombo District Cricket Association, Sri Lanka's largest single association with a membership of 45 clubs, is to make an appeal to the country's president, Mahinda Rajapakse
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
08-Mar-2006
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Following a meeting held at the Sinhalese Sports Club, which was attended by a large majority of the CDCA and Sri Lanka Cricket membership, two resolutions were unanimously approved. Firstly, an appeal will be made to the President, and secondly, the audited statements of accounts for the financial year will be circulated immediately to the general membership of SLC, for review by the Auditor General.
"We think an AGM is a necessity because we feel that cricket in this country has been diluted to a huge extent," said Colombo DCA president, Nuski Mohamed, who chaired the meeting. "Especially with the provincial and district cricket tournaments not being held and the Premier tournament being expanded to 20 clubs."
Aravinda de Silva, the vice-president of SLC, said that the majority of national cricketers were in favour of the provincial tournament because it was initiated to try and help first-class cricketers in the country, and to create a competitive structure for the youngsters to make sure they are well prepared for international cricket before they enter the scene.
Mohan de Silva, the former SLC president under whose tenure of office the Sports Minister decided to suspend the activities of the SLC executive committee almost a year ago, said: "Our activities were suspended citing various reasons. One of them was this so-called financial mismanagement. Unfortunately up to now we have been deprived of a hearing or no charges have been framed against us, thus violating all norms of natural justice."
"The fundamentals of natural justice demands that a fair hearing is given," he added. "We have been denied that opportunity. This is the reason why we have waited for so long and come before our membership to seek their views. I am happy about the response that we have received today from them."
Hashan Tillakaratne, Sri Lanka's former captain, said that it is almost ten years since the country won the World Cup and added it was sad that the standard of cricket has deteriorated to a stage where the country's senior and junior teams were getting beaten by a country like Bangladesh.
"Before our cricket reaches rock-bottom," said Tillakaratne, "we hope the president of the country gives us a fair hearing and paves the way to hold elections and let an elected body administer cricket
Former Sri Lanka cricket stars Ashantha de Mel and Brendon Kuruppu and other SLC officials were also present at the meeting.