Guest Column: Sri Lanka's most corrupt and violent BCCSL AGM (6 April 1999)

Chrisantha de Silva the President of Moratuwa SC and Past President of the Colombo District Cricket Association has this to say without disrespect and malice to none

06-Apr-1999

6 April 1999

Guest Column: Sri Lanka's most corrupt and violent BCCSL AGM

The Daily News

Chrisantha de Silva the President of Moratuwa SC and Past President of the Colombo District Cricket Association has this to say without disrespect and malice to none.

I was requested by many leading cricket personalities to come forward to contest the post of Asst. Treasurer of the BCCSL at the AGM held on 28.03.'99, as a member of Mr. Clifford Ratwatte's team.

I have known Mr. Ratwatte, the President of Nationalised Services Cricket Association to be a honourable gentleman, a clean administrator and a strict disciplinarian, the kind of person for the need of the hour to pull Sri Lanka cricket out of the woods. If anyone has the slightest doubt that he was entering the cricket board elections as a Presidential candidate to further his relatives political stature, I am sorry to say that they are sadly mistaken, as he came forward only at the request of many Presidents and Secretaries of prominent clubs and associations, who had the foresight of what cricket in Sri Lanka was heading for.

I was in Mr. Clifford Ratwatte's team and went for the AGM on Sunday the 28th instant as Moratuwa SC's voting delegate along with Mr. Vernon de Mel (Sports Secy) or our club being the other voting delegate and accompanied by the club's Hony. Gen. Secy. Mr. Willet Fernando.

As I reached the gate of the Cricket Board to enter along with the other voting delegates of the club, several known Presidents and Secretaries of clubs & associations came up and told me that they were being prevented from entering BCCSL premises to attend the AGM and cast their valid votes, which they said is wrongful and done wilfully and maliciously denying their voting rights.

However, I entered with the other voting delegate, but it appeared to me that the registration desk was not resolving the problems faced by many eligible voting delegates, as according to them I was told that others have already entered as voting delegates on their behalf.

Gen. Secretary of Kalutara DCA Mr. Vajira Asarappulli a lawyer by profession told me at the entrance that many corrupt practices were adopted to deny them of their rightful vote. He also told me that some unscrupulous elements have already entered the BCCSL early morning on behalf of eligible voting delegates with illegal documents which believe is ultra vires and wrongful. I overheard Vajira making a strong objection to the CEO in denying him and his other voting delegate entry for the AGM and also heard the CEO having a heated cross talk and asking him to go home.

I have attended the BCCSL AGM's from 1980 as a voting delegate and have served the BCCSL in many committees and also served in the Ex-Co on several occasions, but I am sad to say and deeply regret the happenings that followed thereafter. There was reason to believe that non eligible persons had taken the place of authorised voting delegates and several contestants including me and Mr. Clifford Ratwatte submitted a letter of protest to Hony. Secretary to check the validity of the participants in the presence of the candidates contesting for the various posts, which I personally handed over to Mr. Saliya Ahangama, Hony. Secretary who had consultations with Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala and refused to accept same and asked me to hand it over to the CEO of the BCCSL who accepted same after stiff resistance, but no action was taken. The Extraordinary General Meeting to receive accounts of 1997 was held with part of the member voting delegates not attending in trying to resolve the problems faced by several voting delegates who were denied entry.

The AGM proper was called to order at which point of time a large number of voting delegates were assembled at the gate trying to resolve the problems of registration. During the item under agenda of Election of Office Bearers several club Presidents raised preliminary objections and protested that the conduct and the unruly behaviour of some persons inside the voting hall and the denial of right to vote for some was a violation of Article 18 (a) and the atmosphere was not conducive to hold the AGM nor the Election of Office Bearers, which was disregarded and overruled by Mr. Sumathipala from the chair.

At this juncture pandemonium broke out and Mr. Sumathipala had come down from the rostrum and physically assaulted Mr. Abu Fuard - Vice President candidate in the presence of the voting delegates, at which point of time Mr. Clifford Ratwatta and his team including Mr. Nuski Mohammed, myself and other voting delegates withdrew and walked out. There was no other option as some members were unruly and violent, and several members rushed out fearing for their own life. Such was the tension that prevailed at the AGM consequent to the assault on Mr. Fuard.

As per the 'Daily News' of 29th instant Election of Office Bearers have thereafter taken place and the figures shown in the newspaper doesn't reflect a correct picture.

Mr. Sumathipala by overruling all objections raised has not paid any respect to the views and opinions expressed by members, in conducting a just and fair election.

All candidates of Mr. Ratwatte's team and many voting delegates withdrew from the hall as the atmosphere was violent.

In the circumstances, votes given in figures against each of Mr. Ratwatte's team cannot be taken as correct as the election has been held under threats, intimidation and unruly behaviour of some members, and without the participation of those who withdrew from the AGM after registration, for fear of their own life.

It is alleged that votes were cast in favour of other candidates by their supporters on behalf of Mr. Ratwatte's delegates who withdrew from the hall making good use of their absence.

Therefore, in the light of the foregoing could this election be accepted as just and fair and valid in a civilised and democratic country like ours? If there is the slightest thing called the Elementary of Justice shouldn't this AGM be declared Null & Void? ? ?

I am aware that the print & electronic media in countries such as India, Pakistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh etc; etc; have carried banner headline news stating that the BCCSL elections have been forcibly and wrongfully held under threats of guns, bombs and even acid bottles.

I have attended BCCSL's AGM meetings from 1980 to 1997 and this year (1999), but I have never seen such a violent, disgraceful and unruly meeting without any kind of law and order. This is a clear signal that the Noble Game of Cricket is now turned into a rowdies game rather than the well known 'Gentleman's Game', and if this situation is not arrested on immediate basis Cricket Administration and cricket will die a natural death sooner than later. I am sorry and shocked to note that people of repute and high calibre have contributed directly or indirectly and is a party to the cause of the deterioration of the administration, which has now fallen from the pan to fire.

In conclusion, may I say that the BCCSL AGM was conducted in a most Undemocratic and Unlawful manner bulldozing the rights of members and in an atmosphere not witnessed ever before in the history of the BCCSL. It is of paramount importance to note that nobody is above the law and none should make the BCCSL their private property as evidenced by the conduct of a handful of people who used intimidatory tactics.

Is this how the noble game of cricket is to be administered? I will not be surprised if this dictatorial action on the part of the BCCSL administrators will create an adverse reaction to the game by the cricket loving public of Sri Lanka, who are well aware of these misdoings! Shame on cricket! Shame on the World Champs! Shame on Our Country!

I trust it will not be too late to put things right in cricket, and I pray that sanity will prevail!

Chrisantha de Silva
Contestant - Post of Asst. Treasurer; President - Moratuwa SC

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