Former President and current Executive Committee Member (immediate Past President) Thilanga Sumathipala has been officially banned from ever holding office at the country’s hallowed establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket by Sports Minister Harin Fernando.
Whilst taking this bold step by using the powers vested in him as the Minister of Sports, Harin Fernando recently signed a sports regulation to have the Sports Law amended, where Thilanga Sumathipala’s involvement in the betting and gaming business, whether directly or indirectly finds him being barred from holding office in SLC ever again.
The amended Sports Law regulation came into effect on the 21st August 2019 with the gazette notification being published on the 23rd of August 2019.
The printed gazette notification will be submitted in Parliament shortly.
Minister Harin Fernando prior to making this decision which was widely regarded as unattainable in the past due to Thilanga Sumathipala’s strong political connections, made a personal visit to India to meet the ICC President Shashank Manohar. During this visit he sought advice on proceeding with this matter.
“The ICC Chairman has been very supportive of the progress Minister Harin Fernando is making with the sport of cricket in Sri Lanka and is delighted that he is trying to clean up the alleged embroiled financial and match fixing mess Sri Lanka Cricket has found it self in” a top Sports Ministry official told.
Seeking expert legal advice on Sports Law matters, Minister Fernando sought the advice and retained the services of Lawyer Panduka Keerthinanda. It was Lawyer Keerthinanda who had earlier been instrumental along with President’s Counsel Lawyer Romesh De Silva who sought relief from the Court Appeal to prevent Thilanga Sumathipala from contesting the last held SLC EX – CO Elections.
Thilanga Sumathipala’s family has been in the betting and gaming business for decades, where he himself openly confessed in Parliament that the business is currently being run by his brother.
Whilst seeking clarification under the Rights to Information Act, it was stated that ‘Sporting Star’ that Thilanga Sumathipala is indirectly involved in, is registered under the betting and gaming business in his brother U.W.J.P.A Sumathipala’s name.
“Thilanga Sumathipala now has two choices. Resign from the post of Committee Member from the Ex – Co with immediate effect or expose himself to be sacked as his presence is not legal and valid any more” a senior SLC administrator told.
