SLC given 14 days to defend against Nuwan Thushara

By Bhagya Silva

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) informed the Colombo District Court that it will file objections against the plaint filed by fast bowler Nuwan Thushara who was not granted permission to play in the current lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) for his club the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Several other Sri Lanka players were granted permission to play in the IPL by SLC who issued them with what is being called No Objection Certificates (NOC).
When the case was taken up yesterday, Counsel Kanchana Peiris appearing with Senior Counsel GG. Arulpragasam for Thushara, submitted before court that a date be given to confirm facts in respect of the interim relief sought in this case.
President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, appearing for the defendants at SLC, requested court to grant a date to file objections in respect of the case.
Accordingly, the Colombo District Court ordered that the matter be taken up again on April 23 for the filing of objections by SLC.
The defendants are SLC president Shammi Silva, Secretary Bandula Dissanayake, Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda and Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva.
Through his Senior Attorney GG. Arulpragasam, Thushara has stated that he is a cricketer representing the Sri Lanka team and that he entered into an annual contract agreement with SLC which eventually expired on March 31 this year.
Thushara stated that he had previously played in international premier league cricket tournaments in a manner that did not conflict with his commitments with the Sri Lanka team.
He further stated that he represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL in 2024 and 2025 and that SLC had issued him a No Objection Certificate for 2024 and 2025 to participate in the IPL.
Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket Ashley de Silva has stated that this time Thushara was not issued with the No Objection Certificate (NOC) as he had failed a physical fitness test.
Thushara has denied he failed the fitness test saying he has also not decided to retire from representing the Sri Lanka team and not stated that he would not enter into a further contract agreement with SLC.
Under the circumstances, Thushara states that there is no reasonable legal basis for SLC to refuse to issue him with the No Objection Certificate to play in the 
2026 IPL.