Sri Lanka: Previous Cricket Board ExCo to continue by Court Order (8 April 1999)

8 April 1999

Sri Lanka: Previous Cricket Board ExCo to continue by Court Order

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) will function with the members of the executive committee elected prior to the annual general meeting of March 28, 1999, following an order given by the District Judge of Colombo yesterday.

The Colombo court issued an enjoining order yesterday restraining the members elected to the executive committee of the Board on March 28 from functioning till April 19.

BCCSL chief executive Dammika Ranatunga addressing a press conference at the Cricket Board headquarters yesterday said this order did not prevent any members of the executive committee that functioned prior to March 28, 1999 from carrying on the functions of the Board.

Ranatunga further stated that the Cricket Board had referred the court order to the Sports Minister for his advice on the matter.

"Since we come under the Sports Ministry we are seeking his advice. Any legal matter concerning a sports body has to be referred to the Sports Minister who will seek advice from the Attorney General," said Ranatunga.

The court decision means that Thilanga Sumathipala will continue to function as president of the Board until April 19 when the next hearing is scheduled to come up.

Sumathipala defeated rival candidate Clifford Ratwatte by 79 votes to 11 in the Cricket Board AGM held on March 28 amid allegations of vote rigging and intimidation.

Ranatunga said that there are a lot of plans to be put in place before the World Cup and many issues to be taken up between now and April 19.

"We need to take decisions. I don't think this is a good situation for us to be in. This is taking so much of our time. It has happened and there is nothing much that we can do," he said.

Ranatunga said the decisions taken by the elected board prior to yesterday's court order will remain.

When questioned whether these legal implications would affect the Sri Lanka team which is currently preparing to defend the World Cup in England next month, Ranatunga said: "We have done our best to keep the players out of this situation. We have spoken to them today and told them what we expect from them when it comes to the World Cup.

"I specifically made a request from them not to get their minds involved in this particular situation, but to concentrate on their cricket. I think we have been successful in doing that," said Ranatunga.

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