Sumathipala stands uncontested for presidency

It is with great pleasure that I wish to announce today that Mr Thilanga Sumathipala stands uncontested for the post of President of Sri Lanka Cricket for the year 2005/2006.

I have known Thilanga for several years, firstly as a brilliant cricket administrator and later as a good friend. It is for this reason that because of the problems Thilanga faced last year and due to the fact that he could not fully complete his term of office and implement the strategic five year plan that he put in place whilst he was President, that I agreed to submit my nomination for the Post of President of Sri Lanka Cricket for the year 2004/2005. I did so because I shared Thilanga's vision and passion for the game.

The last year has been a very satisfying year for me. I feel that I have managed to do many positive things for Cricket in Sri Lanka and we have achieved several important milestones. I would not have been able to do so if not for the unstinted support I received from my Executive Committee, the Staff at SLC, our brilliant Cricket Team, the general membership of SLC, the millions of Cricket fans both in Sri Lanka and abroad and the members of the electronic and print media with whom I have had a very cordial relationship. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Sri Lanka Cricket has taken very positive steps to help the several thousands of people who have suffered due to the Tsunami tragedy. At our invitation our Cricket Aid program is led by Thilanga and we have made giant strides in the past two months. The launching of the SLC Foster Parent Scheme where we hope to look after the needs of a 1000 orphaned children was one of the highlights of this program sponsored by the SLC.

It was because I felt that Thilanga should be allowed to carry on the work he had started during his earlier tenure of office, that I decided to step down and invite him to come forward. As such I am the proudest person today that he will be the next President of Sri Lanka Cricket. I have promised him and the other members of the Executive Committee of my fullest support and cooperation. I look forward to a long association with Sri Lanka Cricket and its development.

I wish Marvan and his team all the very best for the future and thank them for their brilliant performances. They have been true ambassadors for Sri Lanka, throughout the world. Wherever I went I met hundreds of people who congratulated me on the exemplary behaviour and attitude of our players both on and off the field. I congratulate them and the team management for a wonderful year.

I also wish to thank all our coaches, umpires, administrators of the game at all levels and all other officials, without whose untiring commitment to excellence, cricket in our country would not have come this far.