Sri Lanka: Wijetilleke assures fair play (9 July 1999)

9 July 1999

Sri Lanka: Wijetilleke assures fair play

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

The interim committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board met the media for the first time and apprised them of the functions undertaken by them since taking over the running of the Board a month ago.

They answered questions on the signing of a contract with Sony Entertainment Company for TV rights for the forthcoming one-day triangular, foreign exchange given to Board members and, the purchase of World Cup tickets to the tune of 77,000 pounds sterling.

Chief executive Dammika Ranatunga apprised the press how the Sony deal was struck after the calling for tenders and said after a final decision was taken by the previous Board, a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed with them and they are in the stage of signing a final agreement.

"In fairness to the former Board I must tell you that we are proceeding with the arrangement they have come to with the Sony company because we are satisfied that it is the best offer this country could have got, given the circumstances," interim committee chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke told a press gathering at the Cricket Board headquartes yesterday.

Wijetilleke said that his committee had appointed a finance manager last week to streamline the accounting areas and, that they are awaiting a report from the interim auditors before making any changes to the systems and procedures. He said the committee would get an audit done once the accounts are settled and assured the house that fair action will be taken in that respect.

With regard to air tickets and exchange given for the World Cup to Board members, Wijetilleke released the following information which was available to them - Oshadie Weerasinghe 1,000 pounds sterling as a loan recoverable over a period of time, Dammika Ranatunga 1,500 pounds, and 19,950 US dollars, Saliya Ahangama 1750 dollars (which he has refunded) and air ticket for Rs. 132,160, Thilanga Sumathipala 1,500 pounds exchange, Prasanna Ranatunga, Anuruddha Polonowita and Sumathipala also given air tickets to go to UK for the World Cup at values of Rs. 130,000 and Rs. 150,000.

"This is what the Board records show. There are no records of any others obtaining exchange for the World Cup matches," said Wijetilleke.

Speaking on the World Cup tickets, Ranatunga said that tickets for the World Cup were brought in advance.

"The Board took a decision to reserve these tickets to enable Sri Lankans to go and watch the World Cup because they wouldn't have the opportunity to purchase them in England," he said.

"None of these tickets were given free except to the executive committee members. The five-member committee in England were given a ticket each for the matches, a few tickets to MRF because they have been helping us over the years and also to the sponsors. Apart from that none got free tickets from the allocated lot.

"When Sri Lanka didn't qualify for the Super Sixes, those tickets were returned to the ECB and we are awaiting their statement," Ranatunga said.

Chairman of Selectors Sidath Wettimuny who was also present thanked Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva, the former captain and vice-captain of the national team for the yeoman service they had rendered to Sri Lanka cricket in their respective capacities.

"Arjuna and Aravinda will always be remembered as two of the greatest cricketers this country has produced. Their contribution to the game of cricket has been enormous and I am sure they will contine to serve Sri Lanka cricket on and off the field in the years to come," said Wettimuny.

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