(Lanka-e-News- 26.May.2016, 8.30PM) It is an incontrovertible truth that right now our cricket standard has dropped to zero level. Although we won the test for the last time at Leeds on our tour of England , on this tour we faced a innings defeat at Leeds. Unbelievably the match ended in just three days with our players failing miserably –unable to face more than 75 overs of the bowling of the opponents in both innings.
It is clear we are in the losing streak from the time of 20-20 over world tournaments.
When the cricket board elections were held at the beginning of this year it was Thilanga Sumathipala who won after defeating the Ranatunge lineage. Nishantha Ranatunge was so strong that Thilanga was not in a position to win but for Jayantha Dharmadasa and Mathivanan . It was obvious that it was the minister of sports Dayasiri Jaysekera’s direct support to Thilanga that contributed to Thilanga’s victory.
During the period when Mahinda Rajapakse was the president though Thilanga was supposedly supported by him , Rajapakse maneuvered through Mahindananda Aluthgamage most craftily to ensure Thilanga does not win.
On this account and because Thilanga began doing all the lowliest of biddings of Maithripala Sirisena after presidential elections , he was appointed as deputy speaker through the national list of M.P.’s despite his humiliating defeat at the general elections.
Earlier on ,each time Thilanga was appointed to the cricket board as the chief , an interim committee was appointed before his term ended. This was because within the cricket association which is noted for its affluence and huge fund generation a storm of controversies had always followed pertaining to financial affairs whenever Thilanga took up duties.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is fully aware of the activities of Thilanga, is keeping a surveillance over the cricket Board. Now, even before Thilanga has begun his old habits and hobbies that necessitate appointment of interim committees , the signals are very clear and indeed Ranil has already forewarned on this.
While our cricket team was tottering and in tatters at Lords ,Thilanga spending wastefully and lavishly has organized a sumptuous dinner on June 4 th at Lords playground long room . The dinner ticket is priced at sterling pounds 200.00 each.
The reason cited in defense of this profligate Tamasha is : this is being organized to extend support to the Kidney donation program of Maithripala Sirisena . This is an absolutely calculated deception practiced on the president. The earnings from this dinner in England is hardly enough for a housewife to buy a brinjal when compared with the colossal amount of money wasted on the Tamasha – the so called fund raiser for president’s kidney donation program.
It has been estimated that a sum of Sterling pounds 45750.00 is the expenditure for the dinner at Lords. That is Rs. 10 million approx. in S.L rupees! That expenditure covers only the cost of food and the hall .A number of Souvenirs to be auctioned had been made specially in SL . A sum of Rs. 35 million is expected out of collections received from donors and sellers in this connection.
Already articles to be sold and auctioned worth Rs. 18 million had been sent to England. A number of officers very close to Thilanga and their families have also applied for visas to watch the matches and to attend this dinner. Among them is sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. A sum of Rs. 10 million is expected to be spent towards this jollity , mirth and merriment of a selfish few.
‘When Rome was burning Nero was fiddling’ is an old adage. It will be a justifiable modification if is said ‘when home is burning the cricket zeroes are fiddling’ in relation to present SL.
Now , a separate account for cricket donations has been opened , and it is being managed separately. All the present cricketing financial affairs are carried out under that account though this is a flagrant violation of the financial regulations of the cricket board.
Raveen Wickremeratne who is a bosom pal of Thilanga could not even secure the vote of the Panadura cricket club which he represents , in favor of Jayantha Dharmadasa . Yet , because he was involved in all the general election campaigns of Thilanga , Wickremeratne was appointed as assist. Secretary. He has so far collected as monthly salaries about Rs. 10 million , and during just five months he has toured overseas on 7 occasions . He has already broken the record set by Nishantha Ranatunge in this regard , employees of the association say. It is to be noted all these expenses are met by the cricket board of SL.
During the election campaign of Thilanga , an advertising Co. by the name of ‘Shift Integrated’ joined hands. When SL team was sent on the world cup 20 -20 tournament cricket tour , a colossal expenditure of Rs. 30 million was incurred in connection with the celebration . This was organized by ‘ Media gang and Shift.’ It is significant to note this arrangement with this Co. was made despite the fact there is a business establishment division of the cricket board itself which organizes such events.
The Dinner party in England is being organized by ‘Shift ‘ establishment led by Raveen . Preparations are under way to send two representatives of ‘Shift’ to England in connection with this dinner ,for which funds are being disbursed by the cricket association.
From all these revelations , it is deducible how ‘well’ Thilanga is managing the finances and funds .There are 17 players in the SL squad .While spending a further Rs. 3.5 million on behalf of more players , Chandrashan Perera the media and physical training instructor has been included in the squad (it is only in SL there is a single advisor representing two divisions – media and physical training which are unrelated and diametrically opposed divisions). An additional sum of Rs. 3.5 million has been spent for this. Chandrashans’s wife too has been absorbed into the service as a media advisor on a monthly salary of Rs. 75,000.00 !
If the second test that is to be played at Durham also finishes in three days , it will be only the flies that swarm around the dinner table will remain, Sri Lankans in England pointed out.
By a special correspondent
Translated by Jef
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by (2016-05-26 15:35:26)
honor -Sells President’s ‘kidneys’ to throw a sumptuous dinner party !!)
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