Thilanga Sumathipala, the discarded former president of Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has continuesly been showing his desperation for the election. After silently waiting for few months, Now he has started a campaign against Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha as well, as he wants to make a comeback at SLC as soon as possible.
After Sumathipala led administration left the SLC on May 31st due to failing to hold the election on time, Faizer Mustapha has taken over the board and his secretary Kamal Padmasiri is running the show.
Few days ago, Sumathipala reunited with his former associate SB Dissanayake (who was actively involved in Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar manager Mark Meskarhenas TV deal as Sports Minister) and put all the blame on Sri Lanka’s dismal performance in recent months on Faizer!
So, why Sumathipala is so desperate for SLC election?
Cricket Age has successfully decoded the real reason! When investigated, it learnt that Sumathipala has received 35 percent share of his family betting/gaming business from his late mother’s testimony case. He can claim his share from his estranged brother Jagath Sumathipala (who has been on the loggerheads with Thilanga) after singing the relevant documents.
Now, there is a twist. If Sumathipala signs to take his share in his family’s betting/gaming business, his involvement will be exposed! According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), any person, who has been involved in betting/gaming, can’t serve cricket at any capacity!
That is the reason Sumathipala wants SLC election to be held as soon as possible! His master plan is that after contesting and winning (he still believes that he will easily win the election!), he will be free to sign the relevant documents and claim his share of family business. Even if someone takes objection then, he will have the option to step down from the presidency and appoint one of his close associate. By doing so, he will be able to run the SLC from Punchi Borella!
Then, there is another hurdle for him. Sumathipala has the next hearing on the case filed by Nishantha Ranatunga coming up on 5 October 2018 and he has been avoiding filing objection to the case filed over several hearings.
His difficulty in filing objection is the existence of court records where he has admitted to his family having connections to the gaming industry in an earlier court case. He is now in a quandary where he cannot file objections denying his family involvement in the gaming industry which will find him guilty of perjury. Under such daunting circumstances, Sumathipala’s only hope of getting back on the saddle is to force the Minister of Sports to conduct elections where he can pre-empt on-going court proceedings.
