Sri Lanka Cricket clarifies Sumathipala appointment

This refers to the recent news items published in the Newspapers regarding the nomination of Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala by Sri Lanka Cricket to attend the ICC Board Meeting and the IDI Board Meeting in Lahore, Pakistan.

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to clarify that Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala is the nominated Director to the Executive Board of the ICC, having been unanimously chosen by the General Membership of the Sri Lanka Cricket at the AGM held in March 2004.

Mr. Sumathipala, as the immediate Past President of Sri Lanka Cricket, is also a Member of the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.

A Three - Member Bench of the Court of Appeal on October 11, 2004 having been apprised of the importance of Mr. Sumathipala attending this particular ICC Board Meeting, where certain important issues concerning Sri Lanka Cricket were to be discussed, granted approval for him to attend the ICC Executive Board Meeting and the IDI Board Meeting in Lahore, Pakistan.

It is a cardinal principle of natural justice, that a person is innocent, until he is proven guilty.

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket at their meeting held in Kandy on October 02, 2004 unanimously decided to nominate Mr. Sumathipala to attend the ICC Executive Board Meeting and the IDI Board Meeting in Lahore, Pakistan in the greater interest of Sri Lanka Cricket and respecting the endorsement of the general Membership.

Mr. Sumathipala having attended ICC Executive Board Meeting and the IDI Board Meeting in Lahore, Pakistan and very successfully dealt with the important issues concerning Sri Lanka Cricket, has returned to Sri Lanka.