Mathivanan resigns as Dharmadasa returns

By Madushka Balasuriya

Jayantha Dharmadasa has returned to the Sri Lanka Cricket fold, unanimously appointed as Vice President, in a tumultuous day that also saw K. Mathivanan resign from the same post, citing a lack of “transparency and integrity” in the decision-making process of the Board.

K. Mathivanan

Jayantha Dharmadasa

Mathivanan, who was nominally in charge of domestic and international cricket affairs, in his resignation letter cited a host of grievances, most notably being sidelined from the decision-making process. “According to the Sri Lanka Cricket Constitution, the two Vice Presidents handle the responsibilities of overlooking domestic and international cricket, but the current administration has chosen to ignore the norms and have now sidelined me from the mainstream of cricket administration,” stated the letter.

“At both Executive Committee and Management Committee meetings, my opinions have not been sought nor heeded.” Mathivanan also took umbrage at the decision-making process of the SLC Executive Committee, which he claimed saw decisions taken in an ad-hoc manner foregoing due diligence. He charged that the Board had gone as far as to actively hamper his attempts at vetting certain decisions beforehand.

“At Executive Committee meetings, I have raised several objections to the decisions taken but they have ignored me and taken their decisions nevertheless and I feel that I would also be held responsible for these unsavoury decisions, which would be detrimental to the reputation I have built up as an honest administrator. 

“Notice of meetings and the agenda with Board papers have not been circulated to me in time, preventing me from studying the implications of the matters to be discussed. I have shown my displeasure and refused to endorse the decisions taken without discussion, but the current administration goes ahead with their pre-planned ideas which are detrimental to good order and discipline. I do not wish to be party to such flippant decision-making.” Dharmadasa’s return meanwhile is a surprising u-turn from a man who had famously tendered his resignation four times in 2017 after disagreements with the Board, which was at the time headed by Thilanga Sumathipala but also had Shammi Silva and Mohan De Silva – the current President and Secretary – in it.

According to an SLC release the appointment had been made “in terms of the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket”. On Mathivanan’s resignation meanwhile, SLC insinuated the move had been as a result of a proposed inquiry against him. “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to state that the said resignation of Mr. Mathivanan comes in the wake of the recent unanimous decision of Executive Committee to hold an inquiry against Mr. Mathivanan for indulging in unethical practices in his capacity as an Office Bearer,” stated SLC in a media release.