Upali Dharmadasa Elected To Top Cricket Post (01 Apr 1996)

BY SA`ADI THAWFEEQ

In a stunning reversal of voting, Upali Dharmadasa edged out current president Ana Punchihewa by a margin of five votes to become the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka at its 48th annual general meeting held at the BMICH, Colombo, Sunday.

Dharmadasa received 63 votes to Punchihewa`s 58 in one of the most closely contested elections for the Cricket Board`s presidency.

Dharmadasa, a vice-president of the Cricket Board for two years during the presidency of Tyronne Fernando was not available for any comments yesterday.

Last year, Dharmadasa who is a director of Nawaloka Group pulled out of the contest for the presidency citing that he could not match the money Punchihewa was pumping for cricket. However, this year he made a determined bid and succeeded.

Punchihewa was too stunned to realise that he had lost.

"It was totally unexpected. I was seven to eight votes ahead on Saturday. But it is very sad that certain clubs voted against their mandate. I blame the current system,`` he said.

Punchihewa lost largely through the affiliated clubs who have one vote each. He received only two votes to Dharmadasa`s 13. Otherwise, Punchihewa held a 56-50 lead through Cricket Association and Controlling Club votes, each of whom have two votes each.

It also gave the outside world a clear insight to the cricket administration in this country. Here is a country that has just won the most prestigious prize in cricket - the World Cup, and a fortnight later, the country`s Cricket Board head is defeated by election. What price gratitude ?

The actions of the voting clubs have made Sri Lanka the laughing stock of the entire cricket world.

If this is how the voters treat a man like Punchihewa, who during his one year in office has done a lot for the game, then his successor (Dharmadasa) will be wearing an uneasy crown on his head.

The clubs who voted for financial benefits have shown a lack of moral values. Gone are the days when a Cricket Board AGM was looked forward to as a honourable and clean election. Today, it has turned out be one of the dirtiest campaigns to wrest control of the most treasured post in Sri Lankan sports.

Other office-bearers:

Vice Presidents (2 posts): Thilanga Sumathipala (108 votes), Harendra Dunuwille (75), Kumar Borallessa (35), Michael de Zoysa (withdrew); Secretary (1 post) : Triforn Mirando (71), Upali Ahangama (50); Treasurer (1 post) : Kumar Weerasuriya (uncontested); Assistant Secretary (1 post): Ajith Abeygunawardena (uncontested); Assistant Treasurer (1 post): Nihal Leuke (47), Shibley Vilcassim (26), M. Sivaratnam (25), Mithra Siriwardena (25); Controlling Club Members (3 posts) : K.M. Nelson (NCC), Gamini Goonesena (Colts), Irwin Jayawardena (Kurunegala SC); Affiliated Club Members (2 posts): Priyantha Algama (Wattala CC), Donald Perera (Old Dharmapalians); Cricket Association Members (2 posts) : Ronnie Guneratne (Badulla DCA), S. Kathikesan (Puttalam/Chilaw DCA).

Tournament Committee (5 members elected out of 7): Carlton Bernadus (chairman), Roshan Abeysinghe (secretary), M. Sivaratnam, Jayantha Kudahetty, Jeevaka Fernando; Umpires Committee (5 members out of 8): Mahinda Seneviratne (chairman), A.R.M. Arooz, Marian Cooray, Lal Ranasinghe, D.P. Wickremarachchi; Tour Organising Committee (5 members elected out of 6): Hyasti Aponso, Ranjith Pandithage, Frank Cooray, Sunil Mohotti, Deva Amunugama; Sponsorship Committee (5 members uncontested): Jagath Pattiarachchi, Pemlal Fernando, Lasantha Rodrigo, Upul Jayasinghe, Senarath Alwis.

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