da bet sport： Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando, has decided to revoke hisdecision to nominate former cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala asthe Sri Lanka’s main representative at the forthcoming International CricketCouncil (ICC) Executive
Rex Clementine11-May-2002Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando, has decided to revoke hisdecision to nominate former cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala asthe Sri Lanka’s main representative at the forthcoming International CricketCouncil (ICC) Executive Board meeting in June.The minister backed down after four members of the 10-member interimcommittee currently managing the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricketin Sri Lanka (BCCSL) threatened to resign if protocol was broken andSumathipala, a non board member, was asked to attend the high profilemeeting.Speaking to CricInfo, the minister, who maintains that Sumathipala wastreated unfairly by the previous PA government, which dissolved hisadministration in March 2001, said that Hemaka Amarasuriya, the recentlyappointed chairman of the interim committee, will represent Sri Lanka at themeeting, but Sumathipala will be his standby.Before minister’s decision, the secretary of the interim committee, KushilGunasekera, treasurer Tryphon Mirando, chairman of selectors Michael Tisseraand former Test batsman Sidath Wettimuny confirmed that they were willing toresign over the issue as a matter of principal.But although Fernando backed down, the decision to appoint Sumathipala asstandby has still irked the four, who believe that an interim committeemember should be appointed. They are now waiting on the minister to confirmhis decision before considering what action to take.But the minister’s request had received some support in the interimcommittee at an emergency meeting on Thursday night. Lawrence Amarasena, amember of Sumathipala’s previous executive committee, along with newappointees Ajith Jayasekara and Lucian Merrinnage are believed to havesupported the proposed appointment.Nalin Ladduwahetty said he would support the view of Interim Committeechairman Hemaka Amarasuriya whilst Roshan Mahanama did not attend themeeting.The chairman did not call for a vote on the issue, deciding instead to handover the decision to the minister.