Sri Lanka’s journey in Cricket after it’s admission to full member status of the ICC has been a steady and a proud one amidst many social, diplomatic and economic barriers. Having it’s team’s back bone broken by the elimination of Bandula Warnapura, Flavian Aponso, Hemantha Devapriya, Mahesh Goonatilleke, Lalith Kaluperuma, Anura Ranasinghe and Ajit de Silva in the same year due to the the rebel tour of South Africa, none would have given the Islanders a chance to maintain their steady progress in International Cricket. But a standardised Schools Cricket system and a defiant Board President in the Late Gamini Dissanayake gave the best support to the mainstays of the national team in the mid 80’s namely Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias. Having the support of senior players in Sidath Weittimuny, Ranjan Madugalla and Asanatha De Mel, it was further buoyed by rich talent that was unearthed with the likes of Ravi Ratnayeka, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva and Rumesh Ratnayake. Even with limited tour offerings from non Asian countries, Sri Lanka managed to record it’s maiden Test win in 1985 by beating Kapil Dev’s Indian team and followed up with a resounding win against Imran Khan’s Pakistanis in 1986. Same year the Lankan’s under Duleep Mendis emerged as the Asian Champions which was viewed as a phenomenal feat considering the low level of exposure as a full member of the ICC and the fact that they lost the nucleus of their side soon after their admission to Test Cricket.
The Terrorist bomb blast which occurred on the 21st of April 1987 claiming 113 lives became the biggest challenge for the development of Cricket in Sri Lanka. Teams stopped visiting the troubled country and the outbound tours were listed to a solitary Test match. The mighty West Indians thought it was unworthy to invite the Lankans at all. Although this is never highlighted in media nowadays, this resulted in the premature retirements of Asantha De Mel, Ravi Ratnayeke, Sidath Wettimuny and Ranjan Madugalla. The problems were further confounded for the Lankan Cricketing fraternity with the retirements of the National Team’s main stay of Mendis and Dias.
In 1989 the reigns of Sri Lankan Cricket fell on the young Ranatunga. This stubborn, multi skilled Cricketer had little support in the Cricket field at that time. His most formidable support came from a reckless De Silva and an injury prone Ratnayake. But for the good fortune of Sri Lanka his Mentor and Political heavy weight Gamini Dissanayake was firmly committed to the development of the game. He protected Ranatunga from political witch hunting (as Arjuna’s father was prominent member of the main Opposition) from his party colleagues and had faith in him to deliver Sri Lanka as a Cricketing Power. Dissanayake admired Ranatunga’s resolve and his reluctance to admit his team was second best at any moment. Dissanayake also had his sights on another individual ; the young Thilanga Sumathipala who was wielding his family earned money through it’s Book Making empire to penetrate into the Cricket Administration echelons. In a recent newspaper article former BCCSL President the much respected Ana Punchihewa recalled how weary Dissanayake grew of Sumathipala’s intention to be part of the Cricket administration. Dissanayake being the visionary he was, saw the impact this man will have and the subsequent implications that can occur when his family trait conflict with Sports Governance. With the facts in front, even a Child will fathom the implication will be akin to letting the Fox guard the hen house. Time went by and a nation was stunned to silence by the assassination of Dissanayake. 17 months later Dissanayake’s protege led his team to World Cup glory. Soon after Sri Lanka’s greatest day in it’s modern history Sumathipala influenced the unsuspecting Upali Dharmadasa to oust the respected and popular Punchihewa. A year later Sumathipala turned the tables on Dharmadasa and reached the top post of Cricket in Sri Lanka. What transpired from then on is of public knowledge.
Every tenure of Sumathipala as the President of BCCSL or SLC has been cut short by the appointment of Interim Committees (IC). All these IC’S (with the exception of the 2015 IC) have only been appointed to oust Sumathipala. This has been done by different Sports Ministers representing different governments. In simple terms the necessity to have IC’s has been brought along due to the existence of this very soul. So what did S.B Dissanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Johnston Fernando and Jeevan Kumaratunga foresee? All Sumathipala’s regimes faced allegations of mass scale corruption, from Misappropriation of funds to misuse of SLC property. Every time he enters SLC he is accompanied by thugs and money mongering misfits who threaten their way through the employees of SLC. From the naked eye this is the administrative style of Sumathipala. Is this the only reason why Mahindananda Aluthgamage stubbornly stood firm to object Sumathipala’s candidacy in 2012 even with mounting pressure from Namal Rajapksha? Remember, at this time Sumathipala was a Member of Parliament representing the Rajapaksha Government! Having had 1 year tenures on 4 occasions previously he has been successful to introduce a new constitution to SLC which considerably grew the membership of SLC to a whopping 147. He carefully planted his stooges to all these non functioning District and Provincial entities which guaranteed his victory in the eventuality of an election.
If one shifts the focus to the recent series loss to Zimbabwe it has to be looked in at a macro level perspective. This tour was never included in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) . Having this tour would only bring Financial losses to SLC. SLC’s greatest Cricketing brain Jerome Jayaratne has been tasked to look after Administration, HR, Marketing and Engineering matters although he headed the Coaching Division close to a decade. He holds a Level 5 Coaching qualification and is considered to be the brain behind many successes during the last few years. SLC’s Cricket Mentor Aravinda De Silva left in a hurry citing “ personal reasons”. Head Coach Graham Ford mysteriously parted ways with SLC. There is reliable confirmation that Sampath Hettiarachchi (cousin of Sumathipala now employed at SLC) is frequenting team meetings contrary to the Anti Corruption protocols established by the ICC and much to the displeasure of Asanka Gurusinghe. It is also reported that Hettiarachchi’s father is employed by Sporting Star an established betting centre chain operated by the Sumathipala family. A person familiar with the functions of a book maker will know what kind of money will be there on offer to provide sensitive information such as pitch conditions, team compositions and insights into game plans. SLC for the 1st time in it’s history offered a 5 match ODI series to Zimbabwe who were ranked 11 at the time. Even great Zimbabwean sides comprising Flower brothers were only given 3 match series and all such series were whitewashed by all Sri Lankan national teams in our illustrious Cricketing history. Just imagine what the odds would have been in betting centres? 90- 10? Your guess would be good as mine… But Sumathipala and Sampath Hettiarachchi would know exactly how much it would be!. Sri Lanka lost the series in an unprecedented manner and people are pointing fingers at the hapless young Captain and even his Commercial Manager. In a game where the unbelievable happens who would benefit in the gambling game? Its the few individuals who actually predicted it and of course the real winner will be the Book Maker. In this case it may be Sporting Star or Sporting Times where Sampath’s father works.
Is this plague really happening in Sri Lanka? Was this the real reason which got the jitters to the visionary Gamini Dissanayake? Did this make S.B, Johnston, Kiriella and Jeewan nervous? These are serious questions the citizens of this country should ponder. In George R.R Martin’s famous novel and TV Series “ Game of Thrones” such a plague will be demonstrated and identified as “ The Winter is here!”As the Dharmadasa’s, Ranatunga’s and Wettimuny’s have had their share of Game of Thrones it is up to them now to unite and fight against the “White Walkers” of Cricket. It is indeed sad and ironic to note that it was Gamini Dissanayake’s own Son’s decision to have an Interim Committee in 2015 which paved the way for Sumathipala to win the elections. And it is his one time Secretary Nuski Mohamed who is whitewashing the sins of Sumathipala.
Sri Lankan Cricket had faced many troubles with rebel tours, premature retirements, terrorist attacks and limited financial resources in it’s proud history. But the biggest challenge for the Cricket in Sri Lanka has arrived. Sumathipala has commenced his end game in the back drop of the weakest political leadership in this country. Will Dayasiri be bold enough to do what all his predecessors did? Will H.E President understand the complexities and give Political leadership to axe Sumathipala and to prevent him from holding office? Well.. he should .. take a cue from Past Presidents Kumaratunga and Rajapaksha. Wether he will or not, only time will tell.
