Sumathipala withdraws, Nuski uncontested

  Published : 9:03 pm  December 19, 2011  |  1,015 views  |  2 comments  |     

Nominations were closed for cricket elections by 12.00 today as Thilanga Sumathipala pulled out of the contest at the eleventh hour. The parliamentarian, Sumathipala, met the Minister of Sports minutes before the nominations closed and handed him a letter, before announcing that he would not contest at the forthcoming election stating personnel reasons.

Former interim committee chairman, Upali Dharmadasa, and Sumith R. Perera were the only two candidates to forward their names for the presidency. Despite Sumathipala pulling out of the contest, several others of his team vowed to fight it out in the most crucial election in the history of cricket in Sri Lanka. The election will be held on January 3, 2012 at the National Institute of Sport, Colombo.

In another dramatic move, Eastman Narangoda who had forwarded his nomination for the post of treasurer withdrew leaving Nuski Mohamed uncontested as treasurer. So it’s up to the former treasurer to pull Sri Lanka Cricket out of the current debit of 7.2 billion rupees in the coming years.

In the meantime, former interim committee secretary Nishantha Ranatunga also handed over his nominations for the post of secretary this morning.

The Director of Sports, Mrs. Ranjani Jayakody, who had been appointed by the Minister of Sports to conduct the SLC election, said that she would call security personnel if needed.

She went on to say that Kalutara and Matale District Cricket Associations have been cleared to take part in the elections.

In addition to the positions in the Ex-co, there were various nominations for sub committees as well. Sub committees, such as Tournament Committee, Umpires Committee, Tour Organizing Committee and Sponsorship Committee too will be elected at the election.

There are five provincial associations, six service associations, 22 district associations and 29 controlling clubs will cast two votes each at the election while 22 associate member clubs will cast a vote each. There will be 147 votes overall.

Mohan de Silva was elected president at the last SLC elections held in March 2004.

The list of nominations (as issued by the Director of Sports) President (1 post) : Upali Dharmadasa & Sumith R. Perera Vice Presidents (2 posts) : Jayantha Paranathala, Mohan de Silva, Michael de Zoysa, Asanga Seneviratne and K. Mathivanan.

Secretary (1 post) : Nishantha Ranatunga, Ravin Wickramaratne and Michael de Zoysa Treasurer (1 post) : Nuski Mohammed Assistant Secretary (1 post): Irwin Jayawardene and Gerard Hirantha Perera Assistant Secretary (1 post): Ajitha Pasqual, Prasanna Fernando, Gihan Weerasinghe, Michael de Zoysa and Nihal Lewke.

(By Namal Pathirage)