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by Lal Gunesekera

It's a crime that the Provincial Championships have been stopped by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and almost 100 per cent of Sri Lanka's Test cricketers have condemned this act. So said former Sri Lanka cricketer, Aravinda de Silva, at a meeting convened by the Colombo District Cricket Association (CDCA) at the SSC last Wednesday where the theme was "Restore democracy in Cricket".

De Silva, who was a Vice-President at the time that the SLC was suspended in March last year (2005), said that it was not the best way for them to leave office and that they (the elected body of SLC) had a plan for everything they did. He further said that certain things have come to a halt where development is concerned and disclosed that the team that was picked for the Under-19 World Cup were to play India, Pakistan and Bangladesh prior to the event, but not gone ahead with their plan after the Interim Committee took over. He said they even had plans to improve the coaching structure and improve on the physiotherapy department too.

Former President of SLC, Mohan de Silva, said that they were deprived of a hearing and no charges have been framed against them up to date. He said that they want to clear their names as they hold senior positions in the private sector and that Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Jeevan Kumaratunga, has assured that the annual general meeting will be held in March this year. The report about the so-called financial mismanagement too has "gone missing" as always is the case when such a report is favourable to the accused. He said that they must be given a fair hearing.

Nuski Mohamed, the former Treasurer, said that everyone wanted democracy restored at SLC and that the present rankings in Test and ODIs is a poor reflection on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Michael de Zoysa also commended that the former elected persons at SLC were not given a chance to clear their names. He said: "This is not justice and I wonder what the aim of the Interim Committee is - improve the game or what ? Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillekeratne said that the standards have deteriorated since Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 and having lost to Bangladesh in the Under-19 World Cup and twice before that is a sad reflection and appealed to Minister Kumaratunga to safeguard the game. He also spoke out against the selectors who have hardly played any cricket at the highest level.

Former Chief selector Asantha de Mel too spoke against the present selectors. He said that he was approached to head it again and even submitted names of former top cricketers to comprise the Selection Committee, but was not willing to sit with certain parsons in this particular committee.

Two resolutions were adopted unanimously at this largely attended meeting. One was to appeal to President Mahinda Rajapkse to direct Minister Kumaratunga to conduct the annual general meeting of SLC, and the other for the Ministry to submit and circulate the audited statement of accounts for 2005.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.