Former Sri Lanka fast bowler and chief selector Ashantha de Mel has been appointed to the Executive Committee (ExCo) of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as the Sports Ministry representative, Cricket Age reliably learns. De Mel received the appointment letter from Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe today.
de Mel replaced Sudath Chandrasekara, who had written a letter to Sports Minister asking for former World Cup winning Iconic captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s resignation from his post of National Sports Council Chairman (NSC) In March this year.
When Chandrasekara was there, Ministry’s confidential discussions were repeatedly leaked to Sports Mafia on multiple occasions, who are dead against Ranasinghe for bringing new regulations! Even those, who are fighting for the betterment of the game in Island, were afraid to attend Sports Ministry meetings, fearing their private discussions will be Immediately passed to Sport Mafias!
With Sri Lankan cricket in its nascent stages, de Mel was the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack till an injury brought his career to a premature end. de Mel bowled the first ball for Sri Lanka in Test cricket. He also served on the interim committee of the Sri Lanka cricket board, and was a national selector and manager of the under-19 side.
