Sri Lankan board announce fresh board elections

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka announced today that the Annual Genaral Meeting will now take place on the 31st March at 11am. The AGM had previously been postponed until April to avoid it clashing with the England tour of Sri Lanka.

The BCCSL will now call for nominations for election. Possible candidates for the Presidency include Tilanga Sumithipala, the present incumbent, Clifford Ratwatte, who contested in 1999, Upali Dharmadasa, a former President, and Anura Bandaranaike, the Speaker of Parliament.

Sumithipala has already served two years in office and now needs the permission of the Sports Minister, Laksman Kiriela, to contest for a third term. This permission has apparently been given.

Tilanga Sumithipala has overwhelming support in the outstation areas having implemented a high profile development programme and he is widely expected to win should he be allowed to contest.

His greatest threat comes from Anura Bandaranaike. The influential parliamentarian is considered a powerful man in Sri Lanka and could build a strong opposition to Sumithipala. He, however, is reluctant to contest if Sumithipala also stands.

Clifford Ratwatte is a long time foe of Sumithapala. He lost the 1999 election, but successfully prevented Sumithipala from holding office by taking the matter to the courts. The Sports Minister at the time, S.B.Dissanayake, was forced to appoint an Interim Committee to run the affairs of the Sri Lanka board until a fresh election last year.

Tilanga Sumithipala won that election uncontested as Jayantha Dharmadasa, brother of Upali, dramatically pulled out at the last moment on the advice of his lawyers, who believed, but subsequently failed to convince the Sports Ministry, that the election was illegal.

There is also speculation as to whether Arjuna Ranatunga will stand and if he doesn't, whom the powerful cricketing family will support. Sumithipala had previously enjoyed the support of the Ranatunga clan, but has apparently lost this, after the suspension of Dammika Ranatunga as Chief Executive of the BCCSL.