Few months after Thilanga Sumathipala led administration’s departure from Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), Now their wrongdoings are getting exposed thick and fast. In the latest fraud, SLC former ExCo Member and Sumathipala’s closest aide Sujeewa Godaliyadda has emerged as the hidden CEO of a newspaper.
Yesterday, the editors and CEO’s of Sri Lanka print and electronic media met country’s President for an unofficial chat.
Surprisingly, Godaliyadda was present there as the representative of Lakbima. It is noteworthy that Lakbima is Sumathipala’s family owned newspaper.
According to SLC constitution, no person, who is actively involved in media, can serve the board.
Cricket Age has the access of SLC constitution and it says :
“A person shall be Disqualified from being nominated, elected or appointed to hold or continue to hold any paid or unpaid office or post of SLC if he has during the two years period immediately prior to the submission of the nomination, functioned as professional journalist attached to any media organisation.”
However, Godaliyadda not only associated with SLC as an ExCo Member, he is still acting as the secretary of north central province cricket association!
During Sumathipala regime at SLC, Godaliyadda was the most powerful and influential person. Just last month, he tried to pressurized SLC CEO Ashley De Silva to double South Africa Series expenses. But, when Ashley denied, he threatened him.
There were always allegations against Godaliyadda on his association with Lakbima. Few years back, he was acting officially as Lakbima CEO, but when question raised, he pretended to associate with the newspaper only as an administrative officer. Like Godaliyadda, Sumathipala also always hide his association with Lakbima!
