Sri Lanka: Minister lashes out at cricket board officials (10 Sep 1997)

Wednesday 10, September 1997

Minister lashes out at cricket board officials

Daily News

Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake lashed out at Cricket Board officials accusing them of being fraudulent in their endeavour to hold office.

The Minister said that he came to know the inside machinations of the Cricket Board when they attempted to remove Duleep Mendis as the chairman of selectors by giving him only two votes.

The Minister, who was speaking at the press conference in connection with the National Sports Festival at Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Hotel on Monday, said that apart from netball and badminton, he will not give officials of any other sports bodies an additional term in office.

He accused Cricket Board officials of obtaining false certificates from clubs like Bloomfield and SSC, to prove they have played the game in order to hold office.

He said as a result of this, he was unable to take any action against them.

Minister Dissanayake also accused sports body officials of bringing forward Ministers to hold office to cover their sins, and called for the Volleyball Federation officials to resign enbloc, as the standard of the sports had reached its nadir.

The Minister also noted that although the Sri Lankan rugby team had won the quadrangular tournament in Bangkok, their standard overall in the Asian region needs tremendous improvment.

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