Harin Fernando, country’s Sports Minister, Monday banned former Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala from holding any position in country’s most cherished game, Cricket Age reliably learns. The much awaited decision was taken following the consideration of an investigation report against Sumathipala.
The Sports Ministry has sent a special directive to SLC that reads:
“Having received the report of the investigation panel appointed by me on 9.9.2019 after carefully considering all the recommendation. I Hereby, direct you to prevent and / or exclude Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala from participating, sitting or voting in any meetings of any committees, exercise discharge and performs of any powers, functions and duties as an office bearer or immediate past president of from participating as or representing Sri Lanka Cricket.”
On September 9, Harin, in a special directive, had temporarily suspended Sumathipala for one month, by establishing an inquiry panel to decide on his eligibility to hold any post at SLC. Accordingly, The inquiry panel, chaired by the Director General of the Department of Sports Development Dhammika Muthugala along with the legal officer of the Sports Ministry Shiromi Ranawaka as the secretary and the retired senior administration officer, S.D. Piyadasa, submitted it’s report to Sports Ministry last week, with the recommendation of banning Sumathipala from the cricket!
This could be the end of the road for Sumathipala, who used to run Sri Lanka Cricket from his residence Punchi Borella for decades. Backed by political bigwigs, Sumathipala modelled Sri Lanka Cricket like a private limited company by placing his close associates – Shammi Silva and Ravin Wickramaratne in particular – into top posts. However, ahead of a lucrative TV rights deal, Shammi and Ravin dumped Sumathipala just seven months after he placed them at Maitland Place and decided to go on their own in order to get maximum reward.
