Mohan De Silva enters SLC presidency race?

By Madushka Balasuriya 

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Vice President Mohan De Silva has thrown his hat into the ring to become its next president, but only in the event that Thilanga Sumathipala is ruled out of contesting for re-election.

De Silva is likely to be the backup plan of the Executive Committee cum Interim Committee as incumbent President Thilanga Sumathipala’s candidacy to run for a second term remains uncertain.

Sumathipala had announced his intention to run for a second two-year term earlier this month, with elections set for 19 May. However, they were postponed once the Sports Ministry declared that SLC had not followed procedure in calling for elections. With the present SLC Executive Committee’s term ending on 31 May, they were re-appointed as an interim committee and will remain in charge until fresh elections are held.

Daily FT also learns that Assistant Secretary Ravin Wickramaratne will not be up for re-election, with either SSC Chairman Samantha Dodanwela or Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayaka likely to take his place.

“Samantha Dodanwela is an option to replace Ravin, as is Bandula Dissanayaka. Mohan has also submitted an application, and he will probably take over the secretary’s role – though he has also submitted nominations for President and VP,” a source at SLC told Daily FT.

The incumbent committee is likely to face competition from camps involving former SLC office bearers Nishantha Ranatunga and Jayantha Dharmadasa.

“Jayantha and Nishantha might have applied expecting a technical knockout, but that won’t be the case,” the source added on Sumathipala’s possible sidelining.

Compounding matters for Sumathipala was Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake who last week questioned the legitimacy of Sumathipala’s candidacy, namely long-touted familial links to the gaming industry – something that automatically disqualifies candidates from holding office as per Sri Lankan Sports Law.

The new Sports Minister, who is expected to be sworn in today, will have his work cut out for him to navigate SLC’s complex politics, something that could find Sumathipala’s position at the top of Sri Lanka Cricket becoming increasingly untenable.