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by Lal Gunesekera

Why the delay in gazetting notice annulling Interim Committee of SLC?

When will the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, make the gazette notification to make null and void the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and pave the way for this body to conduct their annual general meeting on or before March 31?

This is the million dollar question asked not only among the cricketing fraternity, but all sports enthusiasts who are keen on the SLC electing officials from among their own membership. The Constitution of SLC states that 30 days notice should be given to their members about the AGM and also it is compulsory to circulate the auditored accounts too.

Minister Kumaratunga has a bit more time on his hands to make the gazette notification to conduct the AGM of SLC in a democratic manner. He must not permit the public to hold him responsible for ruining our cricket, and they are eagerly looking forward to his decision on this important matter.

It was in March last year (2005) that Minster Kumaratunga dissolved SLC and appointed an Interim Committee to run its affairs on allegations of financial mismanagement/misappropriation etc. However, the report (draft or otherwise) submitted to his Ministry officials by the respected Chartered Accountant who was appointed to inquire into this serious allegation, has gone missing. What a strange state of affairs!!

How many members of the Interim Committee whom the Minster appointed have played any sort of cricket? Their adminstration has been questioned by many quarters, termination of employees on their whims and fancies (even Minister Kumaratunga had voiced his disapproval to an Interim Committee member), standards of our national team dropping drastically and disunity among the players are some of the numerous allegations made against this Interim Committee, who look more of a Real Estate and Construction Agency than the controlling body for cricket.

Is this promotion?

The previous elected body of SLC bidded and won the right to host the Youth (under-19) World Cup in Sri Lanka which gets underway today (Sunday). They had made plans to conduct the group matches in three outstation venues (Kandy, Galle and Dambulla) apart from Colombo.

But all these plans went haywire with Minister Kumaratunga "throwing them out" and appointing an Interim Committee, who decided to confine all matches to Colombo. For what reason? The Secretary of this Interim Committee, Adel Hashim (the controversial head of the Mercantile Cricket Association), who replaced Tryphon Mirando after the latter's death, has been quoted as saying that it was to "meet the budget costs of the International Cricket Council (ICC)", and also "if the SLC had presented a higher figure, they would have lost the opportunity to host the event". What nonsense.

This is certainly not promotion Mr. Hashim that is required by SLC. The Interim Committee talks a lot about the monies that they have succeeded in "saving" and if this is so, why on earth, cannot some of these monies be diverted to have the group matches in the out-station too? Also, what about the dollars that are doled out to members of the Organising Committee? Could not this be "saved" too and put into better use? Shame!!

Also, certain members of this very same Interim Committee are going round gifting equipment and promising many things to clubs in attempts to win votes if there is an annual general meeting to SLC.

Also, making attempts to remain in office, the Interim Committee has now made bids to jointly hold the World Cup in 2011 in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and also stage the World Twenty-20 tournament. Is that correct?

Invoice for correct sum sent

The Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) has sent an 'invoice' to SLC for the payment of nearly Rs. 8 million as the costs for staging matches of the Youth World Cup at the Premadasa Stadium.

Earlier it was decided by SLC and Director of SNSCA, Cmdr (rtd) H.U. Silva (who was acting for Gamini Nitticumara till he was re-appointed Chairman of SNSCA) to charge only Rs. 22,000 per game, despite the SNSCA tariff rates available states its Rs. 600,000 per game plus Rs. 50,000 for floodlights.

Now, the question arises whether SLC will pay the SNSCA the correct amount due to it and what action will be taken to recover the sum.

What an affair!!

The wife of a senior executive of SLC had visited its headquarters last Monday (January 30) and threatened his Secretary with bodily harm. What was it all about? They were accused of having a roaring affair. The wife had even screamed at the senior executive husband who managed to do the bolt.

The young lass did the same. She is also alleged to have had an affair with a young guy attached to the computer section of SLC. Interesting is it not?

Tug-of-war

There is a tug-of-war going on between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) on the appointment of a national coach.

The usual practice in for a controlling body to nominate an individual with the Minister having the right to make such an appointment.

In this particular case, the Ministry is insisting on the appointment of former national coach E. G. A. Wilson (he was removed by the Interim Committee Chairman, DIG Sirisena Herath) and the Interim Committee of SLASU is adamant on Ruwan Manawadu.

Who will win this contest ?

Divers for Melbourne ?

The Interim Committee of SLASU are making every effort to replace two swimmers with two divers for the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Melbourne, Australia next month (March), when there are no proper diving boards in Sri Lanka and not even a proper diving coach, except for one person who has got a basic qualification from Australia.

Also, a former swimming "star" has threatened to resign from his post in the Interim Committee if his nominee (a young girl who made her way to Canada after protests for the World Championships last year) is not included in the team for Melbourne.

Lets wait and see what the final outcome will be.

Fails at last

The controversial head of an Olympic organisation has failed in his attempts to gain nomination for a local body from the green party of which two big wigs tried their best.

No way said the seniors who got their way much to the disappointment of the Olympic man who threw a lot of money into the campaign trail of their leader down south, during the Presidential election last year.

Resigns

The Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA), H. W. Nimalasiri, who was found guilty of negligence, inefficiency etc by a former district judge Upali Samaraweera who inquired into various allegations into the Junior World Championship fiasco, has tendered his resignation from his post to the President of SLAA, Derwin Perera.

The inquiry recommended severe punishment on Nimalasiri, but now with his resignation, no action could be taken. However, the SLAA, must see to it that Nimalasiri does not contest any post in the SLAA again. He has been withdrawn as manager of the Sri Lanka athletic team for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia next month (March).

Police complaint

A former top flanker representing a leading club in Colombo, who is also a national player, has made a complaint with the Dehiwala Police that a selector has threatened not only him, but also his mother after he decided to cross-over to a club in Kandy this year. They had been told that he (the player concerned) will not be considered to play for his country.

This particular selector is a committee member of the Colombo club's rugby section. Last year, too, he made abusive remarks against the referee during a game where his club was engaged. Should not selectors be impartial?

The chief selector must restrain this particular selector.

The same Colombo club had even approached a player from another leading club in Colombo and tried to recruit him for Rs. 5 lakhs, but have gone ahead and recruited eight other players from opposing teams.

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