Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga declared that ex-Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa was responsible for the current disastrous state and mess of the sport in the country by creating a monster in the form of Shammi Silva who is the intransigent head of the corruption-ridden cricket board.
Ranatunga swore and made the disclosure in an interview with a local television station in the country.
“I will challenge in court anyone who tries to prove me wrong. I have documentary evidence to prove that (former Sports Minister) Namal Rajapaksa backdated a Gazette notification to enable Shammi Silva to contest the election of office bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket (in 2021)”, said Ranatunga.
It referred to an annual audit report that was not prepared in time ahead of the election.
Ranatunga was responding to a question in the interview after he said that each time a new Sports Minister is appointed, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) either looks to get-round him or mislead him so they could have a smooth run and do as they please.
He referred to the latest scenario where SLC sent to Sports Minister Harin Fernando the name of batsman Upul Tharanga as the new head of the team Selection Committee replacing Pramodaya Wickremasinghe at a time he is still playing for his club Nondescripts Cricket (NCC), which marks a conflict of interest.
“SLC tries to either get a new Minister to fall for them and if they don’t succeed they (SLC) try to mislead him and this is what happened. They could not do this with Mahindananda Aluthgamage but succeeded with Namal Rajapaksa”, said Ranatunga.
Asked why he could not become SLC president after retiring from the game, Ranatunga said the current system to elect office bearers was ridden with corruption that does not favour him and several others with a genuine desire to protect and nurture cricket.
“When I once looked at becoming the head of SLC, they (clubs) asked me how much I can pay them. They told me an election was the only time they can get some money in return for their votes.
“I told them I cannot guarantee them (clubs) money, but I can only assure them of developing and sustaining the welfare of club cricket that will benefit the Sri Lanka team. This is the prevalent system and it did not work for me. Even people like Mahinda Rajapaksa who won several national elections will not succeed at a cricket election,” said Ranatunga.
