Tillekaratne drops mafia bombshell

28 February 2026 02:09 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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Hashan Tillekaratne

Former Sri Lanka cricket team captain Hashan Tillekaratne acknowledged that an all-round mafia was entrenched in the sport’s establishment covering all areas of governance.

He made the revelation in an interview with the Sinhala television channel Hiru TV after Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup on home soil.

“The people are so bitter. There is a players’ mafia, managers’ mafia, selectors’ mafia, coaches’ mafia, even a commentators’ mafia. Do you accept this”, the TV channel’s presenter Chamoditha Samarawickrema asked Tillekaratne in the no-holds-barred interview.

“Yes I accept there is this mafia”, Tillekaratne answered. “There are various groups. In every section there is a gang.”

Tillekaratne then went on to say what perhaps no retired cricketer had the audacity to remark about.

“Since 2015 all Presidents (heads of state) and (sports) Ministers have had a piece of the cake and 80 percent of the cricket administration has been eaten up”, said Tillekeratne.

When asked who should be at the helm of Sri Lanka Cricket or its administration, Tillekaratne replied: “I can think of one person and he is Roshan Mahanama”.

Both Mahanama and Tillekeratne played in the same Sri Lanka side and are now retired World Cup champions of the 1996 team.

Mahanama also served as International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, an indication of his track record.

Comments - 6

Suresh Pathirana Saturday, 28 February 2026 03:42 PM

Tillakaratne is not wrong.. Russel Arnold and Roshan Abeysinghe are the worst commentators you ever come across..this is another mafia team..now they have Anjelo Mathews, who can not utter a word or knowledge about cricket commentary and he is there to watch and laugh ..Sri Lanka Cricket has gone to the Stray Dogs with this laughing lot..! They all talk shit and make money..

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Terrence K Monday, 02 March 2026 04:25 PM

Do not belittle commentators like Russel Arnold and Roshan Abeysinghe who have had long years in being commentators whilst Angelo is clueless in being a commentator. If you had made insinuations to Commentators of Indian origin they would have made mince meat of you. At least our commentators have been erstwhile cricketers with backgrounds from reputed Christian Colleges. Basically what is necessary as a commentator is that you should be eloquent in the English Language and know the jargon used in cricket. As a commentator you cannot be rigid and at times chipping in with comments creating laughter brings value to the sport. See some of the video clips in which Tony Greig the much loved commentator of the past did justice to Sri Lanka cricket. !!!!!!

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Jo Saturday, 28 February 2026 11:19 PM

let's see where Anura loyalties lie

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Nimal Sunday, 01 March 2026 03:50 AM

Agree with the comments that Roshan Mahanama is the very best we can ever get. But the incompetence of even the present GOSL will not give him a chance. Roshan, just like Sidath, may not want this mess anyway.

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Cheers Sunday, 01 March 2026 12:48 PM

Our cricket needs a foreign sudda coach with a deputy and all foreign. Our local coaches are old dated and expired

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wickrama Monday, 02 March 2026 07:09 PM

It is just a business. The spirit of cricket and sportsmanship left the game a long time ago. Organized entertainment with an ever-dwindling fan base, SL is not alone. They are the Indo-Asians who started the decline

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