An abandoned Hotel adjourning to Sri Lanka’s International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla is making headlines in the cricket fraternity these days, as the matter revolves around board’s ExCo member and secretary of North central province Sujeewa Godaliyadda.
According to sources, the land, on which the stadium has been built, is owned by the Rangiri Dambulla Temple. During Thilanga Sumathipala’s tenure as SLC president, the board took the land from temple’s Chief priest Inamaluwe Sri Sumangala Thero on lease and built the Stadium. The SLC pays yearly lease amount and it comes under North Central Province.
Cricket Age understands that sometimes ago, Sujeewa Godaliyadda, the controversial secretary of North Central Province, had misled the temple authorities and handed over a part of land, adjourning to the stadium, to the brother of one of the loyal of Thilanga Sumathipala! Later, that Punchi Borella loyal’s brother even laid the foundation for a lavish hotel there, however, later it was abandoned.
“After that incident, Sujeewa was apparently told by temple authorities to not come to the Dambulla Stadium, as they felt that they were misled” an insider at North Central Province told Cricket Age.
Sujeewa Godaliyadda, a controversial figure, is considered right hand of Sumathipala (many, including even Sumathipala’s die hard supporters, believes that Sujeewa is the one who ruined former SLC president’s cricket, as well as political career).
Last month, after the thumping victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the general election, Sujeewa was claiming that soon there would be an interim committee at SLC and Sumathipala would be returning to cricket fold! Then again, few days ago, he brought some fraudulent bills at SLC and unsuccessfully tried to claim money.
