Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has rejected a request by former veteran administrator Jayantha Dharmadasa to join the board after the position of the immediate past president got vacant following the exit of Thilanga Sumathipala, Cricket Age reliably learns. The decision was taken on Friday during SLC Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting.
Dharmadasa made his claim for the post to Sports Ministry after Sumathipala’s exit following the enactment of new regulations barring people with connections to betting and gaming industry holding office in National Sports Associations (NSAs).
“We have unanimously decided to reject his application on the ground that he does not qualify as the immediate past president,” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
Following his request to the former Minister of Sports Harin Fernando, the ministry secretary informed SLC to take necessary steps as per the cricket constitution to appoint Dharmadasa for the vacant post of immediate past president.
However, in previous ExCo meeting, SLC decided to sought legal advice before reaching to a decision.
“The Provision is for immediate Past President, and, in the event that the immediate Past President is invalidated, there is no procedure laid down for his replacement” the top SLC official added.
Thus, after getting legal opinion on the matter, in new circumstances, the SLC decided to reject Dharmadasa’s bid.
“SLC constitution does not allow previous past presidents to be the immediate past presidents. The purpose of having an immediate past presiden is to have the continuation and this appointment is a questionable one” the top official added further.
