Arjuna shuts door on SLC officials’ UAE joyride
Chairman, National Sports Council (NSC), and former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga played another masterstroke when he prevented seven officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), from making a joyride for the Asia Cup T20 Cricket Tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 1996 World Cup winning Captain and former Chairman of SLC Interim Committee made these comments to the media after he had called on the Malwathu-Asgiri Chief Prelates in Kandy.
The scheduled trip by the seven officials from August 26 to September 12 would have cost SLC a huge amount as they had been allocated business class return air tickets, accommodation at five-star hotels in addition to a daily allowance of US $650.
Adding more insult to this unauthorized trip by SLC officials was the pathetic performances by the national team as they suffered a most humiliating eight-wicket defeat at the hands of the minnows of Asian cricket Afghanistan in the Asia Cup opener on Saturday. Ranatunga said that he took over the role as Chairman of the NSC with a mission to eradicate corruption and would not hesitate to inquire about how many unnecessary officials have already made this trip.
Ranatunga further stressed there are several shortcomings in SLC’s procedure when submitting national teams for ministry approval for foreign tours and that he is in discussion level with the authorities to change the present system.
Ranatunga believed that Sri Lanka lost its chances to host the ongoing Asia Cup T20 Tournament in Colombo due to the incompetence of SLC administration and a thorough investigation should be carried out related to this matter.
He also noted that unless the current voting system is changed, no honest or genuine person can come into power at future SLC elections.
Meanwhile, SLC in a media release yesterday informed that in this case, SLC has sought permission from the Ministry of Sports to send seven Executive Committee Members to engage in official matters during the ongoing Asia Cup.
“Any tours undertaken or planned to be undertaken by its Executive Committee Members are purely aimed at conducting ‘official work’ pertaining to the development of the game of cricket in Sri Lanka and nothing else,” added the media release.