Disgruntled Sri Lankan cricket followers have threatened to come out in their numbers on Monday to force the remainder of cornered officials to resign while a hardcore Member of Parliament stopped short of calling for the homes of cricketers and administrators to be set on fire.
The threats to force cricket officials to resign or risk being hounded out came on a second day running of growing public protests after Sri Lanka was humiliated with heavy defeats at the ongoing World Cup now taking place in India.
“In India they burn the houses of players and officials when the team loses. We Sri Lankans have not come to that stage. But because we did not do such things like setting fire to houses these corrupt officials (in Sri Lanka) have held sway and not learnt their lessons”, said Member of Parliament KPS Kumarasiri as he joined the protesters.
The headquarters of Sri Lanka Cricket was put under heavy police and military guard as protesters attempted to break into its premises which they said harboured illegal bookies who are paying corrupt officials money to influence players to fix the results of matches.
“Bookies and betting agents are inside here and as long as they are here the rot will continue”, said one protester.
The head of Sri Lanka Cricket Shammi Silva is reported to have gone into hiding ever since the public protests began on Friday after his veteran secretary Mohan de Silva threw in the towel and called it a day leaving beleaguered fellow colleagues to ponder their future.
Meanwhile Sri Lankan Opposition leader in Parliament Sajith Premadasa, a close follower of cricket called on the government to replace the current hierarchy running Sri Lanka Cricket with people who have the game at heart.
“This mess must end and cricket must be left in the hands of past cricketers like our former World Cup champions”, said Premadasa.
Meanwhile Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe who has come under fire for going soft on corrupt officials apart from calling for their resignations, has sent out letters to the International Cricket Council and Member countries spelling out corruption and malpractices taking place at Sri Lanka Cricket virtually serving notice of his intention to sack the administration.
