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by Lal Gunesekera

Officials make hay while the sun shines

The Youth (Under-19) World Cup which is to be staged in Sri Lanka next month (February) is a windfall for certain members of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has pumped in millions of rupees to SLC for various expenses connected with the event and what better way than for certain "connected" individuals to make a "quick buck".

A son of an Interim Committee member, closely connected to Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga has been appointed as Liaison Officer to the Scotland team and paid a sum of US Dollars 50 per day. This payment is to be made to all Liaison Officers to the teams competing. Thats 16 in all.

Then comes the news that the elder brother of this same Interim Committee member has been appointed as Accountant to the Organising Committee of the Youth World Cup and draws a sum of US Dollars 1,500 (over Rs. 1 1/2 lakhs) per month.

Earlier the sister-in-law of a committee member was absorbed into this committee and paid an allowance. She is the Secretary. Two employees of SLC have also been absorbed at US Dollars 2,000 per month and a Media Unit official at US Dollars 1,500 per month.

Hotels too have been booked for the teams and officials participating. Taj Samudra gets the quota of eight teams and Galadari (23 per cent of shares owned by the big wig of SLC) the balance. ICC and Match Officials are to be housed at Trans Asia Hotel, while the sponsors have been booked into the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

Who gets the order to make the playing kits of our cricketers? It's a long established garment manufacturing firm whose owner has close connections to the big boss's wife. Were tenders called for?

Remember the infamous/famous personality who smuggled liquor into the VIP Lounge of the Rangiri Dambulu Stadium during the Indian Oil Cup One- Day Triangular last year (2005)? Well, he is in the news again. He has been appointed as a co-ordinater and is now demanding commissions from suppliers of various items (mineral water, food etc) for the tournament.

Witch hunt continues

The witch-hunt at SLC continues. Now, four persons have found that their contracts have not been renewed. They include SLC's Marketing Manager Jayantha Kudahetty.

The others are the Maintenance Manager, Peon and a female Secretary. The latter had been "blasted" by two committee members and she in turn had complained to CEO, Duleep Mendis. This seems to be the only reason for her sacking. The foursome are to be paid two months salary and told to quit.

Construction racket

A National Development Committee member of SLC is involved in irregularities when tenders are awarded for construction purposes. He calls for quotations, but gets the contractor who built his (the official's house) to quote lower than the others so that his "catcher" gets the tender, but commissions are involved.

Already this same contractor is doing construction work at SLC who are putting up a three-storied building, R. Premadasa Stadium, a pavilion at Colts and also at Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala.

This very same individual is doing the "club round" gifting gymnasium and cricket equipment without proper proceedure in an attempt to win votes if there is an election to SLC.

He is a Vice-President of the Antonians, Secretary of Badureliya SC and also a Vice-President of the Gampaha District CA.

Threats at AGM

The annual general meeting of the Gampaha District CA was held recently. Contesting for the post of President was a younger brother of former World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Lucien Merinage a former President.

Before the AGM, a cabinet Minister had called all clubs and told them to vote for the former. On the day of the AGM, where only 32 clubs (62 votes) were eligible to vote, there were over 100 present and even unknown persons were seen in vans outside where the AGM was held. Out of fear, the latter withdrew his candidature.

If only......

District associations are paid a certain amount by SLC as administration fees. Normally, they collect their cheques from the cashier, but when they went to collect same this time, they were pushed from pillar to post and were told that the cheques will be released only if they support the Interim Committee members if an AGM is to be held for SLC.

Mr. Hilton

Remember Mr.Hiton the Media Manager of SLC? Well, the banks are yet trying to recover monies due from him for his Credit Card usage.

Mr.Hilton hardly comes to SLC, but gets a petrol allowance of Rs 15,000 per month plus a hefty bill for his mobile phone courtesy SLC, though he does not draw a "salary". An ex-SLBC employee has now been absorbed into the Media Unit at a salary of Rs. 25,000.

Report 'gone missing'

The report submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports by the highly respected Chartered Accountant has "gone missing". He was appointed in March last year (2005) to see whether SLC had misappropriated funds - one of the reasons given for SLC's dissolution by Minister Kumaratunga.

The Director-General of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, Milton Amarasinghe, has said that he is unaware of any such report, and the three-member committee appointed by Minister Kumaratunga to report whether the Interim Committee's term should be extended or whether the AGM to SLC should be held is now "on hold" till this committee finds and studies this so-called report.

I reliably understand that this Chartered Accountant who is now on the management committee of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) has given a draft report to the Ministry and had stated that there were no malpractices in the finances of SLC and that everything was "above board".

If the Ministry authorities are unable to trace this draft report, why on earth cannot they request for a copy from the Chartered Accountant? I am certain he will oblige them.

There seems to be more to it than meets the eye!!

Robbery at SNSCA

A sum of nearly Rs 1 1/2 lakhs was found missing from the accounts section of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) last week, and the Police, who are conducting inqueries suspect it to be an "inside" job.

Surprisingly, the master key to this particular office was available only with the Director of the SNSCA and at the Security Office.

The Deputy Directress (Finance) and Manager of the Accounts section were on half day's leave on the day prior to the robbery and their leave had been authorised by the Director himself.

Catering at functions

During the one month period that the Chairman of the SNSCA was not holding office (he had resigned and appointed later), there were two major functions at the Indoor Stadium. The Director had a meeting to make the arrangements and the clients were taken to the Stadium Hotel for lunch etc.

When the Canteen Caterer (NISCO) are paying Rs. 65,000 plus VAT to the SNSCA, the catering orders for the two functions were given to RS Caterers. Why?

Since you resumed office as Chairman of the SNSCA, what action have you taken Mr. Netticumara to inquire into allegations of improper tender procedures regarding the electronic scoreboard and electronic timing devices for the Stadium? What action are you going to take on this matter?

Guilty needs punishment

The Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) has now appointed a three-member panel to recommend what action to take on their Treasurer, H. W. Nimalasiri, who was found guilty of negligence, inefficiency etc, by a former District Judge, Upali Samaraweera, who was appointed to inquire into the fiasco regarding the Junior World Championships in Morocco. What's the need for a probe now as Nimalasiri has been found guilty.

Samaraweera who has recommended disciplinary action says that Nimalasiri was a person who lacked the basics of accountancy to hold the post of Treasurer and even suggests that a full time Treasurer be appointed.

Derwin Perera, the President of SLAA seems to be in the process of a "cover up" as the annual general meeting of SLAA is now scheduled for February 26 even with the accounts not being audited and circulated.

Nimalasiri in the meantime, has been appointed as the athletic manager for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia in March. Please remove him and don't permit him to contest again.

Court injunction

A court injunction has been obtained by Negombo CC till February 10, disallowing the Interim Committee of SLC from conducting the semi-finals of the Sara Trophy.

Negombo CC state that no inquiry was conducted by SLC when they decided to suspend them and Seeduwa/Raddoluwa CC for one year allegedly for "match fixing" and include Antonians in the 'semis'.

Already, two members of the Tournament Committee (Vaaz and Dunstan Goluhewa) have resigned.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.