Sacked Sri Lankan board President responds to accusations

Thilanga Sumithipala, the President of the Sri Lankan cricket board, which was dissolved by the Sports Minister on Wednesday and replaced by an Interim Board, maintained today in an interview with the Sunday Times that he had done no wrong and expressed disappointment with the drastic actions of Laksmann Kiriella, the Sports Minister.

"I feel my committee and I have been let down and used by the sports authorities," he said.

With reference to the cited justification of the board's dissolution, the failure to give sufficient notice for the boards Annual General Meeting and to circulate the boards accounts within the stipulated time frame, Sumathipala said: "The Sports Law and the BCCSL law are different. All these years we have been following the BCCSL law which states that accounts and notice of the meeting have to be circulated seven days prior to the AGM. As such the audited accounts were circulated on the 17th of this month.

"He could have appointed an interim committee after that date. He should also have had an inquiry to dissolve the board as per the law," he said.

The outgoing Secretary of the board, Mohan de Silva, pointed out in a letter to the Sports Minister on Thursday that Annual Accounts had not been circulated in 1997, 1999 and 2000. Moreover, he accused the Sports Ministry of dragging their feet over the proposed date of the AGM and thus creating the present crisis.

Replying to as yet unfounded accusations made by Prassana Ranatunga, the Vice President of the board, that financial irregularities have taken place during Sumathipala's short term in office, Sumathipala said: "Money has been where I have been and I am not in it to make money. I have done my part and I am proud to have been associated with the BCCSL since 1995."

Reports in the Sri Lankan newspapers on Sunday claim that the outgoing cricket board tried to withdraw US $150,000 soon after the dissolution and has removed documents from the board headquarters.