Cricket Age Exclusive
Ashley De Silva, the controversial CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and COO Jerome Jayarathne have mysteriously received the extensions of their contracts till 2021, Cricket Age reliably learns.
On December 19, Cricket Age had published that fearing the arrival of a New Sports Minister, Ashley De Silva and Jerome Jayarathne are trying to give contract extensions to all the employees of SLC who are close to former president Thilanga Sumathipala. After Cricket Age exposed the devil intentions of Ashley De Silva, newly appointed Sports Minister Harin Fernando immediately ordered him to put all the contract extensions on hold.
However, Cricket Age learns that by manipulating and going behind previous Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha and then Competent Authority Kamal Padmasiri, both Ashley and Jerome managed to get the three years extensions.
According to highly placed sources at SLC, during the last few days of Faizer Mustapha and Kamal Padmasiri, both Ashley and Jerome went behind them and with the influence of Sumathipala, got the contract extensions till December 2021.
By doing this unethical practice, especially when all other SLC employee’s contract have been temporarily extended only for three months, both Ashley and Jerome have betrayed everyone big time! However , this is not a new thing for these two. Last year, Thilanga Sumathipala led administration had to leave SLC in a embarrassing way, after The Court of Appeal gave a stay order on AGM, was scheduled to be held on May 31st.
However, before the departure of Sumathipala, Ashley and Jerome received hefty increments. Ashley, who is worldwide famous for his comical comments and acts on serious issues, had got 40 Percent Increment in his salary. Jerome Meanwhile, who always pretends to be a workaholic with laptop 24 hours in his hands, had received 15 percent increment back then.
That time, not only the SLC employees have shown anger against this betrayal, ExCo Members have also described this as a ” Shameful Act”.
The most disgusting fact is that Their Increments were approved without following the proper procedure. According to sources, the increments of both Ashley and Jerome were not discussed at ExCo. According to SLC Constitution, all staff increments needs to be discussed at house board and recommend to ExCo.
However, Sumathipala Led administration didn’t follow any of the procedure. Not only this, as SLC normaly records all the ExCo meetings, the recording of last few meetings proves that the increment matter of Ashley and Jerome was never been discussed.
The problem is not only that Ashley is loyal to Sumathipala. More seriously, with his loyalty towards Sumathipala, he gives step motherly treatment to administrators of the previous committees. More than half a dozen former administrators have accepted with Cricket Age that Ashley never gave them their due recognition!
And this is the main reason, why Sumathipala always able to maintain his grip at SLC. During his disastrous tenure at SLC, Sumathipala filled the board with his loyals. To make things worse, Ashley De Silva and co. have already extended their contracts by two years.
In return, Sumathipala had also made sure that Ashley De Silva gets certain benefits. The three years extension is another gift to them from Punchi Borella for his loyalty.
Jerome, meanwhile, was reportedly threatening SLC few days ago by saying that he won’t allow contract extensions for few employees, whom he doesn’t like. A complete misfit to his post, Jerome survives at SLC only because he has some kind of relationship with a top brass political leader of the country. In October, Jerome had become the most powerful at SLC because of the changed political scenario in the country. However, as soon as UNP reclaimed it’s position in the government, Jerome again returned to his place!
