The joyrides of Top administrators, officials and their favourites to Australia for the recently concluded T20I series cost Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) a whopping 15 million rupees, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Earlier, Cricket Age had published in a series that at least 11 SLC representatives traveled Australia on board account.
Apart from two mandatory attenders – president Shammi Silva and Vice president Ravin Wickramaratne – SLC has this time gifted overseas joyride to CEO Ashley De Silva, National Development Committee (NDC) Co-ordinator Anura Weerasinghe, ExCo Members Sujeewa Godaliyadda, Gihan Weerasinghe. SLC secratary Mohan De Silva, COO Jerome Jayaratne (as team’s consultant coach) were also in Australia. In addition, SLC treasurer Lasantha Wickramsingha and assistant treasurer Lalith Rambukwella also travelled Australia during the series. Sujeewa Godaliyadda and another bigwig of Sri Lanka Cricket Janaka Pathirana were accompanied by their families as well.
“All the people, who traveled to Australia, were obliged with business class tickets and 10 days allowance at 500$ per day” a SLC insider told Cricket Age.
Accordingly, SLC spent a whopping 15 million on their Australia trips!
Not only this, even though Lasith Malinga led team, after losing the series 3-0, immediately returned to Sri Lanka after the conclusion of the final T20I, few Top officials of SLC are still holidaying in Australia with families and exploring other options!
Cricket Age had published earlier itself that under Shammi Silva’s incompetent and clueless leadership, majority of board administrators and officials are not even interested in staying in Sri Lanka!
Obiously, due to this bad management and overseas extravaganza, Cricket in the Island, which is suffering big time. Four months on, Shammi Silva could not even resolve suspended head coach Chandika Hathurasingha’s matter, there is no permanent head coach, spin bowling coach with the national team since months and the High Performance Centre (HPC) has also been waiting for Asanka Gurusinha’s successor. Instead of resolving these burning issues, Shammi Silva, since taking over SLC on February 21, is only focusing on arranging overseas tours for all those, who voted for him in the election and funding for non cricketing things.
An official care taker of Sri Lanka’s most influential player Angelo Perera, Shammi’s incompetent as SLC President has been exposed months ago, but now, as no SLC official is not even interested in staying in Sri Lanka, the day to day functioning of the board have also been suffering big time.
Interestingly, after Shammi Silva took over Maitland place on February 21, his administration has canceled Women’s Team Bangladesh tour, discarded senior domestic players from annual contracts and not even awarded contracts to future stars like Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, citing financial reasons.
However, as Shammi Silva enjoys the backing of Sports Minister Harin Fernando, there is no one to stop him from operating SLC like a private limited company!
Approximately 11 people from SLC –
1. Business class flights ( approx 500,000 each) = over 5 million
2. 10 days allowance at $500 per day X 11 people – nearly 10 million
