Dharmadasa brothers, Ranatunga: abused office

Former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) heads Upali and Jayantha Dharmadasa and ex-secretary Nishantha Ranatunga have been exposed in a probe to investigate corruption at the country’s most coveted sports organization.

According to the Probe Report submitted by a three-member investigation panel comprising Attorneys at Law Ravi Algama, Jaliya Bodinagoda and Yaruna Mallawarachie, the three men were found to have benefitted by belonging or owning companies that maintained business links with SLC from 2012 to 2015.

The report states that the trio used their positions at SLC to procure deals for cricket and its maintenance that in turn financially benefitted the Nawaloka construction and medical companies belonging to the Dharmadasa brothers, and the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) TV channel where Ranatunga was the chief executive officer.

The Probe Report accuses SLC of playing ball with Ranatunga and the Dharmadasa brothers by awarding tenders (business deals) to companies owned by or functioning under the trio and disregarding the interests of other tender bidders which was against laid down procedure. Ranatunga has been cited in the Probe Report as his CSN television company was able to procure broadcasting rights of international matches played in Sri Lanka at Rs.125 million for a three-year period covering 91 match days whereas another TV channel Rupavahini had in the previous three years paid Rs.81 million for 101 match days.

The Probe Report while noting that the CSN deal was favourable to SLC, has highlighted what it called the “conflict of interest” on the part of Ranatunga who was the CEO of CSN while at the same time being the Secretary of SLC.

Ranatunga, the Sunday Observer learns, has drawn up plans to contest the top post at SLC at an upcoming election of office-bearers.

The Probe Report also states that Jayantha Dharmadasa’s business venture Nawaloka Hospitals was awarded the tender to be the official health care partner of SLC on payment of Rs 1 million for a three-year period while another medical entity Hemas Hospitals had also submitted the same bid of Rs 1 million.

In the case of Upali Dharmadasa, the Probe Report says his Nawaloka Piling company carried out construction work at a cricket venue courtesy SLC which had not followed tender procedures.

The Report states that Upali Dharmadasa’s Nawaloka Piling company had thus benefitted from a payment of Rs.3.5 million for carrying out piling work at a cricket venue.