Thilanga wants to resolve World Tel dispute as soon as possible (31 Mar 1998)

Tuesday 31, March 1998

Thilanga wants to resolve World Tel dispute as soon as possible

by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

Newly elected Sri Lanka Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala said that he wanted to resolve the dispute regarding the World Tel deal as soon as possible in order to ensure the Cricket Board did not lose good money.

"We have a very important tour in hand. In May, New Zealand are going to be here followed by the Independence Cup tournament. The revenue we expect from them will be more than two and a half million US dollars, which is enough to govern this country's cricket for more than five years the minimum," said Sumathipala, addressing the press shortly after his election as president at the Cricket Board headquarters on Sunday.

"The World Tel issue is urgent and my prime concern is to see it resolved very early, so that it may not effect our revenues and deprive us of earning good money.

"I will refer it to the highest authority in the country, the Minister of Justice, who will definitely refer it to the Attorney-General's department. Whatever decision they arrive at, I will abide by it," he said.

Sumathipala said that he had a huge responsibility before him and that expectations were very high.

"My priorities are to address the national issues. My interest is for the national game of cricket and for Sri Lanka cricket. I would like to put everything that has happened behind me and concentrate with the responsibility in hand," he said.

Sumathipala said the events that took place before the AGM was because the Cricket Board was not ready to take up the challenge when a transformation of world cricket was taking place.

"A lot of revenues were coming into national bodies after the ICC was restructured in 1997. The cricket boards had to fall in line with the ICC structure. In the light of that, the Cricket Board was never ready for the challenge. The ICC is a limited liability company of which we, as a full member are a shareholder, not just an ordinary member like we used to be," he said.

Sumathipala said he came into the cricket scene at a time when Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva were removed from the team on that infamous fitness test issue. That was the time he said, when the national players approached him and wanted him to come and serve the game of cricket.

"That was how I got involved in cricket with the Cricket Board. I was never looking at that point to become the president, I had enough time and various reasons to sit and await my turn. But it so happened, that the general membership was of the view that I was the ideal candidate," said Sumathipala, who succeeded to the highest cricket post after being vice-president for three years.

Another important factor which Sumathipala said he would give his immediate attention to was the formation of a cricket academy.

"At our first executive committee meeting I would like to set aside a certain amount of money and immediately appoint the coaching committee chairman and send someone to Adelaide, England and South Africa to study and put out a paper for us to start work within two months. I think we made a mistake in the past of not making a proper study on it," said Sumathipala.

He said the academy which the Cricket Board plans to commence, would be an independent body with a chief executive appointed and given the task of running it. He will be guided by the Board.

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