Aruna De Silva, the controversial head of administration at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has manipulated with the Car dealer Carmart to get an updated luxury vehicle, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Few days ago, Cricket Age had published the news that SLC has ordered four luxury vehicles (each worth 13 million rupees) for the top officials, including board CEO Ashley De Silva and COO Jerome Jayarathne.
According to sources, As the vehicles have been purchased from former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala’s sister-in-law company, Aruna De Silva managed to manipulated things according to his benefits.
Aruna De Silva has been considered as the closest associate of Sumathipala. So, in the luxury vehicles episode, he not only became the first SLC official to get the luxury vehicle, but also convinced Car dealers by manipulating them to give an updated version of the vehicle, that too without any extra cost.
According to sources, SLC’s employee Senaka Angulugaha, a former air force officer, has played a major role in this manipulation for Aruna De Silva. A close associate of Sumathipala, Senaka has lately been involved in many procurement practices for his ‘bosses’. Known as the ‘Commission King‘ at SLC, he was the one who bailed out Sumathipala from the jail in 2004.
The interesting thing is that even after being the senior most and CEO and COO of the SLC, Ashely De Silva and Jerome Jayarathne has not got their vehicles as yet.
The ExCo Minute also proves that the vehicles were purchased from Sumathipala relative’s company.
“The quote for vehicles of this category being recieved from M/s. Carmart Private Limited, which is owned and operated by president’s relative by marriage.
The committee having perused the contents of the submission approved the purchase of 04 nos. Peugeot 5008, 1.6 L, 7-seater SUV’s at a maximum unit cost of 13,500,000” the ExCo minute reads.
The purchasing of luxury vehicles by the top officials of SLC is also rather surprising given the fact that the board has not given a single increment to minor staff since 2015. Though, few months ago, Ashley and Jerome had received hefty increments by Sumathipala led administration.
Aruna De Silva, meanwhile, has mysteriously become one of the most powerful administrator at SLC, with Sumathipala’s blessings! During the Nidahas Trophy, he had stayed in a five star hotel in Colombo that cost SLC 5 Lakh Rupees. Initially, SLC CEO Ashley De Silva ordered for an inquiry, however it seems that due to Sumathipala’s pressure, they have closed the inquiry.
