A Cricket Administrators for more than two decades now, Thilanga Sumathipala has adopted the loop holes of Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) Constitution that much, that now all its shortcomings favours only to his dominance and this is the main reason of Downfall of the game in the Island.
Faizer Mustapha, A Sports Minister who claims he doesn’t anything about Cricket, has appointed a Competent Authority to run the SLC, after Court of Appeal Knocked Sumathipala Out a day before the proposed election on May 31st. Now, Sports Minister, That Competent Authority Kamal Padmasiri and That Incompetent CEO Ashley De Silva running the show at SLC.
Currently, they all are enjoying the time, enjoying the luxuries and enjoying the Space too. There is no Sumathipala at SLC! No Mathivanan and no Mohan De Silva as well! Suddenly, Ashley De Silva has become a ring master (first time ever in his career) And he treated Sports Minister and Competent Authority too : With a Dubai trip just four days after they took over the SLC (For some kind of meeting with ICC they self claimed).
However, this may be a ploy! A well planned ploy of Sumathipala!
It could be a possibility that Sumathipala Planned That Dubai trip! This might also be the idea of Sumathipala that since Competent Authority took over SLC, Ashley De Silva goes Sports Ministry everyday!
All these can be true! Reason the loop holes of SLC constitution allows Sumathipala to take maximum benefits of the muddled situation. Here are some of the biggest loop holes of SLC constitution :
Only Stakeholders Can Contest SLC Election : Like most of Cricket playing nations, in Sri Lanka as well, only the members/stakeholders can contest the election. However, since the arrival of Sumathipala in nineties (The decade when Sri Lanka won the world cup in 1996), He dominatied club system and modified for his benefit so much that No Stakeholder or member (Except for Colt’s Cricket Club President Nishantha Ranatunga) has ever contested against Sumathipala. To be precise, he has completely manipulated Sri Lanka club system for his eternal stay at SLC!
Big Time Obligation Of Clubs To Remain in Power : Sumathipala never lost a SLC election! There is a popular belief in Sri Lanka cricket circuit that even Country’s President can’t win SLC election against Sumathipala! However, the reason of this dominance ate serious threat to any Sports organisation. As stakeholders/Club Members Chooses SLC President, Sumathipala Obliges them big time. With money and all kind of ‘bribery type’ facilities! In Sri Lanka domestic cricket, lot of clubs does not have even their own grounds, no infrastructure and they don’t play in top gear either. However, irrespective of these shortcomings, Sumathipala gives them lump sum amount, in the name of ‘so called’ Upgradation. In reality, they gets big money whenever Sumathipala is in the helm of SLC, but they never upgraded themselves! So the money that must be spent on Cricket Development, goes to Clubs to secure vote bank.
Dare To Challenge Sumathipala And Co On Your Own Money : This is another reason of Sri Lanka Cricket downfall. Whenever Someone questions Sumathipala led administration’s wrongdoings and drags them in Court, SLC Constitution allows them to spend millions rupees of the board to fight the legal case in Court. However, the person, who dare to drag them in Court, has to fight the case on his own money. Obviously, in this scenario, it becomes very difficult for anyone to fight against Sumathipala and Co.
Political Interference At SLC : This probably is the main reason of Sri Lanka Cricket downfall. Prior to SLC proposed election on May 31st, Sumathipala proudly self claimed that he has the full backing of Country’s President. In another similar thing, Kumar Sangakkara, Probably the greatest batsman Sri Lanka have ever produced, Said few days ago that when Sri Lanka Cricket fans would not be able to recognize Sports Minister, that day Sri Lanka Cricket will start to blossom!
These two things clearly shows, where the problem is? The reality is that SLC has always been controlled by Politicians. And don’t forget, Sumathipala himself is one of the powerful politician in Sri Lanka! So, he uses all his political power to remain at SLC!
These are the shortcomings of SLC constitution, that needs to be addressed. Needs to changed. Simply because this shortcomings allows Sumathipala to rule the SLC forever!
