'Betting' Shammi or Roshan; President must decide: Roshan

8 November 2023 03:20 pm - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - President Ranil Wickremesinghe has to decide whether he wants me or 'Betting' Shammi, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe told Parliament while dropping bomb shells on Sri Lanka Cricket ( SLC).

"Some interested persons are out to mislead the President by giving him false information on cricket. Some in the President's Media Unit are also involved in this conspiracy. The president's security was breeched when he went to wach the LPL finals as some underworld figures who happened to be body guards of SLC chief Shammi Silva were also there. Can this be approved?" he questioned.

"The President should decide whether he wants Roshan Ranasinghe or betting Shammi against such a backdrop," he said.

"It is not the players who are involved in match-fixing but those in SLC," the minister charged, while making a special statement on cricket in Parliament.

Also, he called for the passports of SLC officials to be impounded.

"Passports of the SLC officials should be impounded in order to prevent them from leaving the country," the Minister stressed.

Further, he stressed for a forensic audit on all transactions of SLC since 2017.

"The Auditor General's report and the Kusala Sarojini Weerasinghe Commitee had disclosed many malpractices in SLC. Tickets have been purchased for the recent T20 World Cup without calling for tenders. A sum of USD 20,000 has been deposited in a bank in Australia while another sum of USD 300,000 due to the players have not been paid to date," Minister Ranasinghe added.

Coming up with more reasons for the debacle at this year's World Cup, the Minister said having the LPL before the World Cup was a huge mistake."

Sri Lanka has not earned a single cent out of LPL," he said.

"I have informed the ICC and Asian Cricket Conference but no action has been taken so far," the Minister also alledged.

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Comments - 34

Oh Ranil the Pawn Wednesday, 08 November 2023 03:34 PM

Dear Party Heads please take the united resolution to dismiss these cricket crooks asap. Ranil has no guts to do it, he wants to escape the pressure of the crooks.

Jayantha Wednesday, 08 November 2023 03:54 PM

All genuine cricket lovers in parliament should stand with the minister. Time to send that joker RW home together with betting shammi team.

Anthony Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:32 PM

Well said

Ama Thursday, 09 November 2023 12:00 AM

@ Jayantha WELL SAID. Not only Betting Shammi, RW also should be remived from the seat. RW is trying to protect the corrupt.

Ram Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:03 PM

Good exposure. I hope the government MPs and the opposition MPs will be united on this matter to send the Cricket Board home

Ram Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:05 PM

This is an indictment on our President

Palitha Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:21 PM

It's common sense. Where millions of dollars are involved in betting it's natural for anybody to salivate and succumb. Master crooks must have planned the outcomes of certain matches months ahead. Why not hire foreigns sleuths to get to the bottom of the story?

Suresh Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:23 PM

Something is very fishy. Why is HON PM involved in this? Let there be an independent body to find out what went wrong.

Rani Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:25 PM

Well done Minister. You have a back bone.

Rohan Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:25 PM

Money, women, wine. These can destroy anything or anyone in the world. Feel sorry for the 'gentleman's game.'

Fact Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:29 PM

One thing is certain. Our cricket is altogether in a different league.

ground boy Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:30 PM

People want to secure the future of Cricket, not the future of any crooked politician or official.

Sam Silva Wednesday, 08 November 2023 07:30 PM

Not only to secure the future of cricket but secure the entire country.

SJP Wednesday, 08 November 2023 04:49 PM

Shammi is a proxy of bookiepala. In the sametime bookiepala is an organiser and leader in the SLFP hierarchy. RW needs the support of the SLFP at this stage in support of the budget and future elections. For RW, Shammi is important for his survival. Personal survival ahead on the country.

Sokrates Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:01 PM

Cricket, the most boring sport in the world. Apart from that, politics must stay completely out of all sports. Parliament now really has more important tasks than interfering in sport. Sport is criminalized through political interference.

P.P.Jeganathan Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:12 PM

Ranil spoilt his good name with the Central Bank scam by not taking action in time before the issue exploded to a bigger level which cost him dearly in the last parliamentary election. This time, if he does the same mistake all his good actions to save the country will be a waste and he will become so unpopular..

Jennifer wick Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:21 PM

The real story is that NR and Roshan wants to tap into the 40million USD in Sri lanka cricket accounts. RW should let the rule of law get upheld. Of the parliament is used to overturn judicial decisions, he should just devolve the parliament and send these crooked politicians home.

A Cricket Lover Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:22 PM

People in Sri Lanka hope that Hon MPs will forget about party differences and will unite and vote to remove corrupt and inept SLC Executives. MPs should also note that SLC Executives increased the number of First Division Teams from 8 to 26 to get more votes when SLC Elections are held. Australia and South Africa have only 6 teams. This high number of First Division Teams has lowered the standards of First Class Cricket in Sri Lanka. That affects the standard of SL National Team.

N V Jen Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:36 PM

Ranil who is shielding the Rajapakse clan from corruption and murder allegations, who is protecting the bond scammers from his own party, who is shamelessly safeguarding the masterminds behind Easter Sunday attacks will not take your side Roshan. But you can bow out with your head held high for trying to mete out justice for SL cricket.

DOT Wednesday, 08 November 2023 05:48 PM

Don't try to fool us, you guys have already decided and playing with us!

Tom Wednesday, 08 November 2023 07:19 PM

Better not to believe these politicians. They may have their own agenda to bring in their own people to do what they usually do!

Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:19 PM

Ranil and his Royal family members are making a mess of everything, why Ranil is involved here? To protect his Royals?

ROSH Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:22 PM

Unelected master debating president needs loves betting of everything giving him pleasure. He loves his double bedroom in his office. He loves mile high club wherever he travels even in emergency landing. He loves his statue built in front of the parliament without his trousers to see how much work been done before he becomes immortal leader. God bless Sri Lanka

Ravi Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:32 PM

Well said, Mr. Minister. One GOOD man in a sea of corrupt politicians, ruined and continue to ruin.

Fernando Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:32 PM

Everyone must get together and get rid of Shammi's Cricket gang. Otherwise we'll never be able to enjoy cricket again.

Pantha Kumaran Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:38 PM

Let me tell all cricket fans that we have fantastic cricketers in our island. Sadly our politicians get involved in they damaged our cricket. Because of our politicians the country is in poor stage and as long as these lots are in power there is no future.

Abd Wednesday, 08 November 2023 09:42 PM

RW’s dates are numbered,so stick to your line,that will be for your good in future,good luck,Roshan

Ruwan Wednesday, 08 November 2023 11:24 PM

Roshan thinks he is smart. Already has botched things with his unilateral Gazette with Mr Cool.

Moh Sleiman Thursday, 09 November 2023 06:59 AM

Roshan Ranasinghe,You are the man for the moment,With all due Respect if you have the balls please name all these thieves and make sure all the money is paid back to SLC,if the stolen money is already not stashed in foreighn countries.

Dr. Dishan Ratnayake (Royalist) Thursday, 09 November 2023 11:05 AM

We should stand with the Sports Minister as he fights for the right. Hopefully, Ranil will take the side of Shammi as he had promised to pump money for the next elections for Ranil. (This is the truth)

A Cricket Lover Thursday, 09 November 2023 12:57 PM

Requesting corrupt SLC Executives to resign would NOT do. Parliament MUST pass a resolution to remove them.

Dasa P Friday, 10 November 2023 03:39 AM

It seems like Gota 2 is going to start. Got to go home.

Erandani Dias Friday, 10 November 2023 11:51 PM

SL Cricket was all us expatriots had to be proud about. Now we are nothing but low ranked vermin in the eyes of the world. We cry for you Mother Lanka!

ChildOfGod Sunday, 12 November 2023 09:20 AM

SPORTS MINISTER STICK to your notice to the President, if you end up REMAINING as SPORTS MINISTER may the LORD give you the strength to name, shame and get all the dishonest officials locked up till all funds are recovered and JUSTICE is served. " LORD HAVE MERCY the MASSES have suffered long enough". Amen and Amen

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'Betting' Shammi or Roshan; President must decide: Roshan

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