Arjuna urges President, PM to dissolve Cricket Board

4 April 2016 07:09 pm - 26 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga today urged President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to dissolve the Cricket Board (CB) with immediate effect and appoint an Interim Committee under him.

Minister Ranatunga said he had no clue at all as to who was the Sports Minister as Sports Minister did not take decisions on cricket right now and added when an interim committee was in charge of cricket, no one could pilfer money from cricket.

“We have brought cricket in Sri Lanka to a position which we can be proud of. If we are to save the most popular and widespread sport in the country, we must relieve it from bookies. The best strategy available to us to put an end to the current mess in cricket is to dissolve the CB and appoint an Interim Committee. I am ready to take the leadership of this endevour, for the sake of national cricket of our country,” Minister Ranatunga said.

Minister Ranatrunga said cricket in Sri Lanka was in its lowest ebb and something has to be done to prevent further deterioration of it. "I have appraised President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and ready to face the challenge with a new team of management," he said.

Addressing the media after giving a statement to the Human Rights Commission following his complaint on the behaviour of Director General of Sports during the cricket board election, Minister Ranatunga added that applications for the Cricket Board election in January had been accepted violating the clauses 13,14 and 15 of the sports law and 11-F5 chapter of the Constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket. The action of the DG Sports had violated his rights and hence the complaint to the HRCSL, he said.

Minister Ranatunga said: "The current Cricket Board attempts to develop cricket in the country by bringing jockeys like Lester Piggott. I have heard that pictures of Piggott have replaced our pictures on the walls of the CB. But no one could swindle money when an interim committee is established."

He said he also served in the interim committee for about a year and never let any one to rip off the cricket fund.

He charged that those who supported the current members of the cricket board at the January election had been given positions at the board who did not have any knowledge in cricket and that had led to the erosion of cricket in the country. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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Comments - 26

Tim wood Tuesday, 05 April 2016 04:06 AM

Dear Peter, Just because his own brother ran the cricket board does not mean what he says is incorrect? It looks to me is that you are a JOKE!

anura Monday, 11 April 2016 03:23 PM

Arjuna, Sri Lankan Cricket doesn't belong to you or your family. Since entering politics you had given up all your honest qualities & had become a hate-driven corrupt politician as the other lot of Diyawanna.

dess Tuesday, 05 April 2016 03:12 PM

Hi Dessy. You better first try to learn as to why he did not get it from both MR and MS and perhaps never in the future.

Onlooker Tuesday, 05 April 2016 03:06 PM

Arjuna was once the head of the cricket board. What were his achievements? He was an utter failure. If he was so keen on developing cricket he could have become the sports minister in the yahapalana government. He selected the ports ministry, people are not foolish enough to understand why all these politicians like this portfolio. Now he is trying to grab the SLC too. We know what his motives are.

lankaman Tuesday, 05 April 2016 01:34 PM

first get rid of your brother from ports authority

Elara Tuesday, 05 April 2016 12:16 PM

But Ministry of Ports is a Treasure !

Reza Tuesday, 05 April 2016 11:57 AM

Get Sidath Wettimuny as the interim committe chairman.

Leo Tuesday, 05 April 2016 10:16 AM

We would have believed your intentions as noble if you pointed out the mass scale corruption taking place at SLC during your brothers tenure. via DM Android App

Prazi Tuesday, 05 April 2016 05:37 AM

You and Malinga are two world cup winning captions. How about we give a chance to Malinga this time to handle the SL Cricket as you must be very busy with your current ministry ?

HORA GONA Tuesday, 05 April 2016 05:23 AM

Rubbished, the down fall of criket commenced under Yahapalana 100 day minister Navin. Even 2014 we won T20.

udaya Tuesday, 05 April 2016 05:13 AM

Hello Arjuna, we saw what you did with ports authority. I am sure you want to bring your corrupt brother Nishantha back as a secretary. Everyone knows who you are. Just shut up and let the current board to handle. We are waiting to see any progress in ports authority. Stop your monkey business. so far we saw only talk but no work. Is that the true meaning of "yahapalanaya"?

Rizwan Tuesday, 05 April 2016 04:23 AM

Aravinda really played well. but it was good team effort. you can't neglect the bowlers and open batting pair

Tim Wood Tuesday, 05 April 2016 04:08 AM

They cut down domestic cricketers pay by 10k and spent 39m for media launch of one nation one team! Guess who got most of the 39m?? you think this the way to go?

Manuel Benjamin Monday, 04 April 2016 08:20 PM

Reasonable request by the honest great cricketing legend.

saman Tuesday, 05 April 2016 03:34 AM

What SLC needs at the moment is less political interference to its affairs which I believe would never happen unfortunately. Arjuna has to understand that he has been rejected by the majority and to live with that. Realistically it would take us few years of hard work to be competitive again. We should support the coach and the current board to make the right decisions so that this would happen.

Bandula Tuesday, 05 April 2016 12:54 AM

All are corrupt so what is the big deal, cricket board or any other board; that is how Sri Lankans are going to live forever.

peter Monday, 04 April 2016 09:51 PM

What a joke! It is his own brother that ran cricket for over a decade. T20 loss has nothing to do with current board

De Silva Monday, 04 April 2016 09:11 PM

Arjuna will bring back his brother who has robbed the board previously

Mithun Monday, 04 April 2016 09:11 PM

Arjuna in desperate to be a President of Board at any cost. I have no clue of Present Cricket Board and its ability but the poor performance of the Srilanka team in T20 World cup is not the fault of the present Cricket board. It is mainly due to the poor cricket development in the country over the years by the interim boards.

mayomi Monday, 04 April 2016 08:43 PM

LOL, just because of inexperience side and immature captain lead the side to this lost, as well as previous administration malpractices and selection committe's poor vision about the countries Cricket how can Arjuna claims the whole cricket board officials are incapable to handle the SL Cricket

Appu Monday, 04 April 2016 08:36 PM

Remember one thing, you guys got the world cup in 1996 because of Aravinda de Silva.

Nalin Monday, 04 April 2016 08:33 PM

Arjuna you must be desperate via DM Android App

Desmond Jeromme Monday, 04 April 2016 08:30 PM

He should have been the ideal Sports Minister. Even it is not too late.

Kiris Baba Amaray Monday, 04 April 2016 08:29 PM

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga is 100% correct. Give him the control button he will prove it.

yahapala Monday, 04 April 2016 08:28 PM

mandala hondatama kachal. via DM Android App

Manuel Benjamin Monday, 04 April 2016 08:27 PM

Arjuna had told this long ago repeatedly, but MR did not listen to him. Now the whole SriLankan knows they lost the T20 World cup because of the bad management. Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister, please listen to Arjuna and dissolve the Cricket Board.

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Arjuna urges President, PM to dissolve Cricket Board

Comments - 26

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