By Revatha S. Silva
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A vast majority of affiliates stand alongside current SLC headed by Shammi Silva[/caption]
Out of about the total number of 85 affiliated clubs of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), 57 have allegedly stood with its current executive committee, headed by President Shammi Silva. They have expressed their displeasure allegedly over possible dissolving of SLC, as a result of an earlier protest made by one of their affiliates, Colts Cricket Club before the Ministry of Sports.
This many affiliates standing with the incumbent SLC administration clearly means that the present SLC committee commands over 67% of votes of its existing vote base. The 85-odd clubs are what that are forming the 145-odd votes to be casted at the next SLC election; meaning indirectly that the Silva camp would win the 20 May election hands down!
It was only last week that Attorney General (AG) Dappula de Livera gave heed to the Colts CC’s protest and recommended the Sports Ministry to appoint a new administrative body to SLC until its 20 May election by dissolving the current committee.
Speculations were rife since early this week, as a result, that Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa would appoint a temporary body of a Competent Authority (CA) to oversee cricket administration while asking the Shammi Silva administration to quit.
Meanwhile, highly placed sources in the Ministry of Sports told the Morning Sports last morning (31 March) that “there won’t be such an appointment”, hinting that such an appointment of an interim administration to SLC is not going to happen soon, or perhaps ever!
What Colts CC, headed by Nishantha Ranatunga who is considered an arch rival of the current SLC dispensation, brought forward in their protest was the fact that Silva committee’s two-year term was over in February this year and that they are overstaying illegally with months to go for next election.
The situation, when explained with the existing Sports Law of the country, created a strange possibility where all leading members of the current SLC committee, including Silva and two of his Vice Presidents Jayantha Dharmadasa and Ravin Wickramaratne, losing their eligibility to face any SLC election in future.
Meanwhile, the SLC rival camp, led by Presidential hopeful Kangadaran Mathivanan (Ranatunga is his secretarial candidate), is likely to seek another battle in court depending on the AG's ruling.
Yet, as it is emanating currently, it is the Sports Minister’s sole discretion that there should be an interim administration for the governance of the sport, or not.