World Cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga charged that Sports Minister Harin Fernando has covered and safeguarded the head of the corruption-riddled Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration by playing the role of a caretaker president and inserting his (Fernando) picture in a newspaper advertisement that he claimed was valued at Rs 20 million.
Ranatunga claimed that had SLC president Shammi Silva’s picture being put on the Advertisement, the Publication would have been flushed down the toilet by disgruntled cricket followers.
The Advertisement referred to was a full page propaganda insert published in the Sunday Times, which has been going soft on SLC, last Sunday.
“Run up to the Cup 2027”, the headline given to the Advertisement declared.
Below the photograph of Minister Fernando was placed with his quote: “In four years we will bring back glory to Sri Lanka Cricket by putting in the hard yards…by doing whatever is necessary. Let’s get ready. It’s time to get the ball rolling”.
Fernando’s remarks also state: “With the right inspiration and preparation, we will summon the strength and resilience to win the world. From all four corners of our island we will seek out the cricketing stars who will help us rise once again”.
But Ranatunga slammed both the Advertisement and Fernando’s remarks as contrary to what is needed to win a World Cup.
“If you want to win a World Cup, you don’t place newspaper advertisements like this,” lashed out Ranatunga. “You get down to ground realities”.
“The Sports Ministry does not have so much money to fund an advertisement valued at some 20 million rupees and I have inside information from SLC that Shammi Silva had authorized the payment and had he inserted his picture in it, the paper would have been flushed down the toilet,” said Ranatunga.
