Sri Lanka Cricket: Heading In The Right Direction

By Faraz Shauketaly

It is rare that Sri Lankan government Ministers keep to their word – and when its Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage announced some months ago that in keeping with the International Cricket Council (ICC) decision to do away with politically appointed administrators elections would be held, many considered that to be yet another promise.
The Minister instead has kept to his word, dissolved the Interim Committee, placed his Ministry Secretary in temporary control as the Competent Authority and announced the date of the elections much to the surprise of many. However, the Minister’s choice as Interim Chairman, Upali Dharmadasa maintained throughout that it was his wish and the wish of his Minister that elections will be held as announced.
The possible main contenders for the position of Chairman, Sri Lanka Cricket is an open secret.: Upali Dharmadasa and the controversial Thilanga Sumathipala. Each have their strengths but Sumathipala has a set of liabilities which would ordinarily preclude him from contesting the Sri Lanka Cricket Elections.
The controversial Thilanga Sumathipala is now an elected politician although that in itself would not automatically exclude him from contesting. However, the thorn in Sumathipala’s side is likely to be provisions within Sri Lanka’s Sports Law and its Amendments. Section 41 of the Sports Law 25 of 1973 and Amendments specifically debar any person with interests in Betting, Gaming or Gambling, The relevant Amendments were gazette under 1389/24 on 21st April 2005.
Additionally Sri Lanka Cricket’s Constituition in Section 31 (General) (b) states, “No person who is an employee of a newspaper ….. shall hold office in the Board or those of its Committees or Special Committees …. This rule shall include any person who is a director of a newspaper company.”
Adding to the conundrum that is “Thilanga Sumathipala” is the International Cricket Council’s Code of Ethics. Although the ICC in its most recent pronouncements on this subject has indicated and passed a resolution to that effect, have expressed a desire to have “elected” officials running the affairs of any member country’s Board, the ICC Code of Ethics is clarity at its best when it comes to Betting, Gaming or Gambling involvement. The ICC Code of Ethics Section 7 (d) states “No person it says, who has any association with the Betting, Gaming or Gambling business shall hold office. It also states that any family involvement would also disqualify that person. “(box for full rule)
There is also the matter of an Affidavit supplied to a British Court by Thilanga Sumathipala in which he confirmed that he was the owner of a ‘Book making” business. Sumathipala now claims that he has divested those interests in Gaming and that the business is run by members of his family now. He will, however, nevertheless still be in breach of ICC 7 (d). Sumathipala was also interviewed by a member of the ICC although that report has never been made available to the media.
Unconfirmed reports further added that a senior banker currently holding office was also being approached by Sumathipala loyalists to make a play for the Chairmanship position, in an attempt to split the 167 votes. However, it is believed that powerful politicians and influential ‘kingmakers’ have brushed aside these attempts especially after the loss of the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.
Whoever is elected at the Cricket Board, be it the Nawaloka Chief, the outgoing Chairman of the Interim Committee or the controversial elected politician Thilanga Sumathipala, they will find a veritable pig’s dinner at Sri Lanka Cricket. SLC has a whopping 267 members of staff who collectively cost a staggering Rs 22.6 Million each and every month. Says the outgoing Chairman of the Interim Committee, Upali Dharmadasa, “until and unless the monthly overhead of Rs 22.6 Million is reduced to anything between Rs 10 to Rs 12 Million the Board cannot function the way it was administered up until 1998.” Dharmadasa’s plans if he is elected is to urgently address the staff issue. Information reaching The Sunday Leader confirms that the staff has been reduced by approximately 12 persons to date and that prior to his leaving the Interim Committee, Dharmadasa had put in plans to further reduce the high level of staff.  It is expected that only the most essential staff whose expertise is valued and appreciated will be kept on. Others whose contracts expire will find that there will be no automatic renewal. It is said another source, “very painful for someone whose lifestyle is geared around a very high salary; but cuts are a painful necessity if we are to get Sri Lanka Cricket to the top once again.” Most sources at the Provincial and Controlling Clubs agreed that these unpopular measures have become an essentiality due to the flippant manner the Board has been administered since 1999.
Upali Dharmadasa – who is so far the only person to have openly stated that he will be formally seeking to participate at the Board Election later this month – said that one of the major priorities was to ensure that the management of the National Team and the Junior Teams received close attention – as did the running of the various Tournaments. The issue of the financial overhead was next on Mr Dharmadasa’s agenda. Why did he want to take on such a challenging role – especially one that was an Honorary position? we asked him. “Cricket ignites the passion of all Sri Lanka. I will be as proud as I will be honoured, to be elected to this role.  Cricket transcends communal boundaries and unites the country – and the role of Chairman of SLC is almost like being the Custodian of the 5th religion in this country. It will without any doubt be an immensely satisfying challenge.”
It is widely expected that Thilanga Sumithapala will not enter the fray. In a short comment to The Sunday Leader, Sumathipala said that he was “contemplating about a team” and that he will decide within “a week”.  It appears that for all intents and purposes,  this will be a race with just the one Stallion running.
(faraz@thesundayleader.lk)