* Former Secretary De Silva to file charges against the vociferous MP
Former Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan De Silva vehemently denied allegations made by Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage that he had offered him Rs 50 million to buy his silence when being interviewed recently by journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama, The Morning Telegraph can reveal today.
Speaking from Melbourne, Australia, De Silva told The Morning Telegraph provided his version of the story which contradicts the Samagi Jana Balwegaya MP Withanage who has become one of the most controversial and vociferous parliamentarians who has been attacking Sri Lanka Cricket continuously, more often bowling a verbal spell of half-baked truths.
“Hesha is a liar.” said the former Secretary De Silva.
“I have asked my legal team in Colombo to look into these false claims made by MP Hesha Withanage about me, as I will not hesitate to sue him for tarnishing my image by bringing such false claims about me” said De Silva.
Besides shouting his throat hoarse in parliament, which certainly gives the general public an opinion that he is being used by an external party as a voice in parliament, MP Withanage was seen and heard making these allegations when being interviewed by journalist and television presenter Chamuditha Samarawickrama on his personal social media channel.
Former SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva Clears The Air
De Silva shared his account, saying, “A prominent journalist named Bandula Saman Wathuregama contacted us at SLC and informed us that MP Hesha Withanage wanted to meet the SLC President, Shammi Silva. Since President Shammi was busy, I opted to meet the MP in my capacity as the SLC Secretary. We invited him over, but MP Hesha Withanage insisted we meet him at one of his relatives’ houses. I believe it may have been his brother-in-law’s house. When we arrived, MP Withana showed up and started asking me questions, which I answered while he took notes.”
“His demeanor and tone were vastly different from what you hear in Parliament, usually quite arrogant, but much calmer this time around. He mentioned that he would soon be appointed as the Minister of Sports and expressed a desire to work closely with SLC for the betterment of cricket. There was absolutely no mention of Rs 50 million during our conversation at any time.”
“After MP Withana left, one of his associates remained and started hinting at needing money for their election campaign. He also suggested that SLC should appoint one of their people as the SLC District Coordinator for Ratnapura. He criticized the current Ratnapura SLC Coordinator, who is married to a Female Minister in Parliament, saying he has been very ineffective. I just listened to him, and then we left.”
Public Opinion: Truth vs. Reputation
When the general public is presented with both sides of a story, they certainly have the knack for discerning who is speaking the truth and who is genuine.
Let’s take a closer look at the contrasting figures in question.
First up, we have the former SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva. A man of impeccable standing, both as an Executive Member of the SLC Board and a philanthropist of great repute. He’s practically a saint in the eyes of the public. Who wouldn’t trust someone with such an illustrious career and spotless reputation?
Digging Up Dirt: The Colorful Past of MP Withanage
Then, there’s MP Hesha Withana, a name that probably wouldn’t ring a bell if it weren’t for his recent outbursts against SLC.
Before he stumbled into Parliament as an MP, he was virtually an unknown entity, relegated to the backbenches.
A couple of phone calls to dig up some background on Withana revealed some rather colorful details.
The first source mentioned that Withana used to work as a Reserve Policeman (RSI), but was terminated due to his involvement in a scandal where ancient relics and artifacts were being unearthed by shady individuals. Sounds like the plot of a B-grade thriller, doesn’t it? But it seems he’s a bird of the same feather as his party leader, who has also been tainted constantly for his penchant for items that have been buried for centuries and have immense value.
The second source had even juicier tidbits. Apparently, Withanage had cozied up to a foreign national for years, convincing this poor soul to buy a hotel and write the deeds in Withanage’s name. Naturally, Withanage then sold the hotel and pocketed the cash. Such a heartwarming tale of friendship and trust, wouldn’t you agree?
After these enlightening conversations, there was really no need for further investigation. Withana’s reputation, or rather the lack thereof, seems pretty clear in the eyes of the general public.
So, when it comes to weighing the truth, it’s evident who the public is likely to side with.
Potshots and Hypocrisy: The Political Game Against Sri Lanka Cricket
For many politicians in parliament, particularly Hesha Withanage, taking potshots at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has become a favored pastime. Even the esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, recently led a committee to report to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on SLC’s shortcomings and proposed remedies. Apparently, the tenure of SLC Executive Committee members has become a life-and-death matter for these political crusaders.
Ironically, the same scrutiny isn’t applied to the tenure of parliamentarians, many of whom are over 70 and still loitering in parliament like dead wood. These are often individuals who entered through the back door, thanks to the National List. The current President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of Sports, Harin Fernando, and even the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, cling to power by such means. They seem to enjoy their grip on authority, yet it’s unacceptable for others to serve in democratically elected positions within their sports associations.
Let’s throw in some perspective for good measure. India, with a population of 1.3 billion, has a maximum of 550 members in its Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, tiny Sri Lanka, with just 24 million people, boasts a constitution that allows 225 members in parliament.
The contrast is staggering and speaks volumes about the political priorities at play.
Despite the general public’s frustration with Sri Lanka’s poor performance and early exit from the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, the politicians always manage to keep the people entertained. It might not be Test or White Ball cricket, but a Political version of the game works just fine. No wonder these thumb-twiddling politicians have so much time on their hands, they’re too busy playing their own version of cricket with SLC, complete with all the political spin and sometimes sending down some underarm deliveries too.
