Former cricket board president denies toppling government

Former cricket board president, Thilanga Sumathipala, has demanded 500 million rupees (USD $ 5 million) damages from Sri Lanka's Deputy Sports Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, after allegations made in a television interview he helped topple the Sri Lankan government last week.

According to Sumathipala, in a media statement released on Monday, "In a recent television interview had made serious false, misleading, malicious statements and even went to the extent to connect me with the LTTE through a Tamil politician for the recent political crisis."

The ruling PA government, headed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike, were forced to call fresh parliamentary elections on Wednesday night after the defection of several high ranking MPs in the days running up to a crucial no confidence vote.

With the election expected to take place on 5 December the UNP opposition looks set for a return to power, opening up the possibility of a change in the administration and thus the Sports Minister.

Such changes would pave the way for fresh cricket board elections and the possible return of a Sumathipala led administration, which had been dissolved in March by the then Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

Rumours ran rife in Colombo over the weekend that Sumathipala, renowned for his canny politicking, had turned kingmaker and played a major hand in the political defections.

According to Sumathipala, Samaraweera claimed in the programme, broadcast on ITN on Sunday night, that he (Sumathipala) had paid Rs 30 million to every member that crossed the floor.

He adamantly denies this, saying, "I must clearly state that I didn't play any part in the recent political developments in the country and had nothing to do with any financial transaction whatsoever."

But admitted that: "Personally, I am very happy to see that some intelligent people have crossed over to the correct side at this moment in time."

Sumathipala has started legal proceedings by issuing a letter of demand for an astonishing 500 million Rupees. Should this not be answered within seven days he claims further legal action will be taken.

He then challenged Samaraweera to an open, televised face-to-face forum to "give us an opportunity to clear our name."

Rumours are also rife that Sumathipala is about to formally enter national politics and contest in the forthcoming elections. He, though, maintains that he is "interested in administration, not politics."