The Unnecessary lavish expenditures has become the theme of Thilanga Sumathipala led SLC in recent times. On every overseas tour, Half a dozen SLC Officials or ExCo members goes for ‘visiting’ trips in the name of developing the game, Al though over 100 emerging cricketers have left the country in bid to play cricket in Australia domestic leagues.
However, this time around, Sumathipala has gone too far, as SLC have been trying to hijacking Country’s Education Minister Akila Viraj agenda.
In recent months, The Education Minister has been actively trying his best to revamping Sri Lanka school cricket. To revive the scenario, he also got Legends like Mahela Jayawardene, Roshen Mahanama and Sidath Wettimuny on the board. Not only this, several other past national players and 1st class players have also pledged the flullest cooperation to the Minister, Since the Minister of education wants to clean the stables from grass root level, with the blessings of the Prime Minister, who does not favour Sumathipala anymore.
On tomorrow, The minister will unleash the ‘National Operational Plan for School Cricket, In the presence of Mahela, Wettimuny and Mahanama .
However, just before this, SLC has included three school cricket officials with Sri Lanka U19 team touring party. According to sources three School Cricket officials : President Oshara Panditharatna, Secretary Kapila Jayalath and Asst. Treasurer Manjula Vaas are going for one month long Joyride.
It proves that, even as Education Minister has the noble intentions to revamp school cricket, the school cricket association officials are playing a double game.
More than With Education Minister, they are with SLC!
And as if it’s not enough, SLC snubbed it’s own Coach in order to include these three joyriders for the New Zealand safari. According to sources, the Spin bowling coach Ajith Ekanayake was about to leave with the team. He was during the team’s official photoshoot even. SLC also applied for his visa, with other members. However, at last moment he was informed about his snub to accommodate These three school cricket officials. While The presence of school cricket secretary in Sri Lanka U19 overseas tour comes within rules, the inclusion of president and treasurer for a month long safari is beyond logic.
However, it’s not only about playing double games. The SLC preferred to send the three school officials in a joyride, when the board could have used that money for the betterment of the game. The board could have spent that money on infrastructure, developing the game.
Instead, it seems the exercise for securing vote bank for upcoming SLC elections.
