Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage, Ranjan Ramanayake launched a scathing attack against the Thilanga Sumathipala led Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) On Monday. In a full-packed press conference at his Parliamentarian Quarters at Madiwela, he presented documents and evidence to expose corruption and misusing of the money that has taken place during the two-year period in office by the Sumathipala administration at SLC.
“Cricket is a very profitable and popular game in the world and earning profit from it like in the recent Nidhas Trophy tournament is not because of the president of SLC Thilanga Sumathipala. In cricket SLC will any way make a profit. It is like the war that was finished recently. It was won not because of Gothabaya and Mahinda but credit should also go to the 26,000 soldiers who died during the war,” said Ramanayake in the press conference.
The popular film actor cum politician further revealed that he has documentary evidence of the corruption and misusing money and accused Sumathipala for obliging his supporters and close associates.
Citing an example Ramanayake stated that Sumathipala had spent Rs. 10 million each on ExCo members to cover their insurance and medical.
“President Thilanga Sumathipala has obliged almost all of his ExCo members with insurance. According to the SLC constitution, only SLC employees are eligible to get insurance. In total, there are insurance for 14 members of the ExCo for medical, critical illness and accident. Why were they insured for such huge monies,” questioned Ramanayake.
He further revealed that Rs. 25 million was given by Sumathipala to Build a Cricket University to a religious leader. It is noteworthy that At a Management Committee meeting held on 21st April 2017, Sumathipala allocated Rs. 25 million to the Shiyamopali Maha Nikaya of the Malwatte Chapter, Kandy to lease a part of their land to initiate a SLC Cricket Campus. At the same meeting, a further sum of Rs. 25 million was also allocated to the Gangaramaya Raja Maha Viharaya, for no specific reason.
“This is unethical whose money is he wasting for someone’s benefit” Questioned Ramanayake.
“Recently SLC printed a book for the country’s 70th Independence and SLC’s 70th celebration on cricket but there is no mention of any Sri Lankan players or details in it. Sumathipala has also promoted a former BCCI president in a book wasting more than Rs. 2.6 million and a further Rs. 1.2 million in publishing another book titled ‘Lions Pride’ using valuable SLC money,” he further stated.
“According to the magistrate court case Sumanthipala is not eligible to contest the last election but former Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara never considered these facts and allowed him to contest and has been directly supporting him,” alleged Ramananayake.
“I hope the present Sports Minister will look at these shortcomings and conduct a proper investigation. Today I am conducting this press conference alone but within a few weeks I will be seated with well-known cricketers and reveal more of the scam that is taking place at SLC which is bigger than the bond scam,” he said.
Ramanayake said the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti Corruption Unit officials Alex Marshal and Steve met him recently regarding the match-fixing accusations and he had co-operated with them and given them all the documents that were available with him.
“In the next few days I will submit these documents also to the FCID, CID, the President Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prime Minister and current Sports Minister to carry out investigations,” said Ramanayake.
“I also agree that involving politics with cricket is not healthy. Former captain Arjuna Ranatunga coming forward for the SLC presidency is unethical because of his current status. I will challenge anyone for a public debate in this regard and I will support it with proper evidence,” he added.
