Bandula Dissanayake, the chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) tournament committee, has been accused of manipulating the fixtures of the ongoing U23 tournament, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Commenced on September 16, the ongoing SLC U-23 tournament consists of 26 teams, divided into in four groups.
According to sources, Bandula Dissanayake, who is also the president of one of the participant team Lankan CC, has been accused of changing the venue for one of the upcoming match (involving Lankan CC), as well as the postponement of the other matches.
“Taking the full advantage of being the tournament committee chairman, Bandula has changed two fixtures of his club Lankan CC. A match against Ragama CC was supposed to be played on September 16. Now, it is rescheduled on September 26. Another Lankan CC match against Air Force was scheduled to be played on September 19. Now, it will be played on September 23” top official of one of the participant team told Cricket Age.
Not only the games postponements, Bandula is also unethically changing the venues of the matches as per his wish.
“Before the fixtures meeting, home side should arrange the grounds. However, Lankan CC didn’t provide ground name, saying that they don’t have the venue for their matches. Now, midway through, the Lankan CC-Air Force match is slated to be played at Panadura. However, now Bandula is trying to shift the match from Panadura as well, as it’s raining here these days” the top official added.
According to the tournament rule, the venue for the matches can’t be changed, unless the paternal body – Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) – asks for the particular ground for an international match. However, being the chairman of the cricket committee, Bandula has modified the rules according to his Club’s benefits.
“While all other 25 teams have played multiple games in the ongoing tournament, Lankan CC has played a single match so far, which is very wrong” the top club official added.
It is noteworthy that Bandula is considered a Punchi Borella loyal. While SLC president Shammi Silva has completely erased Thilanga Sumathipala era from the Maitland Place, his loyals like incompetent Mohan De Silva, Sujeewa Godaliyadda, Aruna De Silva and Bandula Dissanayake are still remained in the system, as stumbling block.
An ExCo member as well, Bandula Dissanayake goes for everything at SLC. Being a President of a club and chairman of the cricket committee itself is a case of conflict of interest. Few months ago, he demanded a lump sum amount from the SLC for his so called services in the preparation of Lanka Premier League (LPL), when SLC offered him a monthly payment.
