Crisi deepens in Sri Lanka |
http://www.sina.com.cn 2005/04/13 15:52 Shanghai Daily |
Sri Lanka's new cricket administration is working without a headquarter as a rival committee wages a court battle with the government over its suspension. "I wanted the new committee to operate from somewhere else. Since they don't have any access (to the Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters) it has become a real problem," Sports Ministry Secretary S. Ranugge said yesterday. "This is becoming a hell of a thing for the game," he added. Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga last month suspended the government registration of an elected cricket governing board and appointed an interim committee to run the sport. He charged that the administration has mismanaged funds and disregarded ministerial orders. Kumaratunga was mainly displeased over the board sending Thilanga Sumathipala, a controversial official facing fraud and passport forgery charges, for international cricket conferences. Sumathipala was elected SLC president despite the suspension late March and has challenged the minister in court. Ranugge said while the ministry has sought court intervention to secure the building, Sri Lanka's sports law is vague about the control of immovable assets in disputes like this. He said, however, movable articles like documents, accounts and check books have been released. Appeals court judges S. Sriskandaraja and Sisira de Abrew on Monday issued an interim order preventing Kumaratunga from dissolving the already suspended SLC until a final order is given. The order means that Sumathipala's committee will continue as an association of member cricket clubs. However, with its registration suspended, it will have no authority to conduct national or international level matches. Sumathipala, whose family's business empire runs into publishing and restaurants, held the board presidency for periods between 1999 to 2003 and was sacked by the then sports minister in 2001 over unproven corruption allegations. Cricket is the most popular sport in this island nation and the cricket board is rich from money earned through the sale of broadcasting rights and tickets. (The Associated Press) |
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