BCCSL
minutes and municipal records
damn Thilanga's
cry of innocence
| The
Dehiwela house of Sumathipala, which was used as a hideout after
the murder of Baddegana Sanjeewa |
Police
backing for Sumathipala at his residence |
By
Frederica Jansz
More
damning evidence unearthed by The Sunday Leader has found that
President, Sri Lanka Cricket and Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom, Thilanga
Sumathipala has not only used Cricket Board funds to finance a trip to
the UK in 1999 for an underworld killer but has also according to
charges made to police, lent a house he jointly owns together with his
wife Samadara at Kawdana Road, Dehiwela to this same underworld leader
and his gang to stake a hideout after having committed a murder.
Dehiwela MC
records on the ownership of the house |
Confirmation of
the minutes |
Selected
excerpts of the damning BCCSL exco meeting minutes |
If
that was bad enough, the feeble defences put forward by and on behalf of
Sumathipala on funding underworld killer Dhammika Amarasinghe's visit to
watch the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999 under the forged identity of
Buddhika Godage has been exploded by the minutes of an emergency
executive committee meeting chaired by none other than Sumathipala
himself.
Further
investigations by The Sunday Leader has found that none other than the
executive committee members of the Cricket Board on March 26, 2001,
jointly approved that a sum of sterling pounds 1,500 released to the
underworld killer, Dhammika Amarasinghe under the forged identity of
Buddhika Godage, be written off.
Cricket
Board Secretary, Mohan de Silva has signed the minutes of the emergency
executive committee meeting of the BCCSL held on February 28, 2001 at
the board room which state the sum of sterling pounds 1,500 released in
travellers cheques to Buddhika Priyashantha Godage be written off.
No
integrity
The
meeting on February 28, 2001 was called to order at 6 p.m. by President,
Thilanga Sumathipala. Fourteen other exco members were welcomed and
thanked for their presence.
The
exco members present at this meeting were Prasanna Ranatunga, A. J. M.
Muzammil, Mohan de Silva, Trevor Rajaratnam, Lawrence Amarasena, Nimal
Perera, B. S. Perera, Hirantha Perera, Chrishantha de Silva, A. R. M.
Aroos, Lucien Merinnage, Bandula Dissanayake, Ravin Wickramaratne and
Ranjith Madurasinghe.
Anura
Tennakoon who was at the time acting chief executive, was also present
by invitation as well as Director Development, Duleep Mendis.
Page
11 of the detailed minutes of that day's meeting under a sub heading
'Other Debtors' has classified as item 2. "World Cup officials - Rs.
184,155, In respect of Mr. Godage's allowance of Pds. Stg. 1,500
recommended to write off."
The
12 page document is signed by BCCSL Secretary, Mohan de Silva. And
Godage was no official either and the exco members knew it, but chose
not to query, instead rubber-stamping the request. When contacted, Mohan
de Silva said, "until the exposes in The Sunday Leader, I have
never before heard the name, Buddhika Priyashantha Godage." Asked
if he is certain he has never authorised or signed any document in
relation to payments to Buddhika Godage, Mohan de Silva replied, "I
am one hundred percent certain."
Mohan
de Silva had to later retract his statements when compelled to read out
the document, the minutes of the emergency meeting on February 28, 2001,
in his possession which clearly indicates that an amount of 1,500
sterling pounds was indeed recommended by the Board to be written off.
(See box for full details of de Silva's comments)
Cricket
Board Treasurer, Trevor Rajaratnam was also present at the February 28,
2001 exco meeting. He too together with 14 other members approved that
this sum of money be written off. "I cannot recall this name at
all," Rajaratnam said when questioned by The Sunday Leader. He
insisted that he too like Mohan de Silva had never before heard the name
Buddhika Priyashantha Godage until The Sunday Leader exposes. He said he
could not even recall the minute, which clearly states that sterling
pounds 1,500 to "Mr. Godage" be written off.
Interestingly,
the executive committee at the BCCSL decided to write off this payment
to Buddhika Godage a year after a special committee appointed by the
Sports Ministry and led by former chairman, Employees Trust Fund Board,
G. Jinadasa had found a voucher that indicated a payment of sterling
pounds 1,500 had been paid to one Buddhika Godage and classified under
the name of the then BCCSL President, Thilanga Sumathipala.
Despite
being aware of this finding, the exco members unanimously decided to
write off this payment hoping perhaps that the matter would finally be
laid to rest.
It
goes without saying that at least two members of the executive committee
that day namely, Thilanga Sumathipala and Lucien Merinnage would have
been fully aware who "Mr. Godage" was. It was afterall the two
of them that had jointly signed an official letter to the Hatton
National Bank (HNB), to release in travellers cheques to Buddhika
Priyashantha Godage a sum of 1,500 sterling pounds from the BCCSL
sterling pound account.
That
the other members of the BCCSL exco merely rubber-stamped this decision
despite the Jinadasa committee report only proves that none of them,
some of whom are presently also exco members on the board of Sri Lanka
Cricket have any credibility or for that matter integrity. Men of the
calibre of Mohan de Silva and Trevor Rajaratnam should hang their heads
in shame for trashing one of the most prestigious offices to be held to
safeguard a game that is internationally revered.
Outright
lies
Both
de Silva and Rajaratnam together with all the other members of the
executive committee including A. J. M. Muzammil who is today Vice
President of the Cricket Board, on March 26, 2001 confirmed the minutes
of the February 28, 2001 meeting. Ratifying their decision to write off
these monies to Buddhika Godage.
Prasanna
Ranatunga was not present at the meeting, which confirmed the minutes.
The
Cricket Board is not only seeking to deceive, but uttering outright lies
also in the process in an attempt to help Sumathipala avoid criminal
charges by claiming ignorance. It is in the context of what former BCCSL
Accountant Subash Pathmaperuma recently told the CID that the minutes
became damning, for there is more. Pathmaperuma, grilled by the CID said
he signed an official letter to HNB authorising the release of sterling
pounds 1,500 from the Cricket Board account to Buddhika Godage on the
instructions of the late Mariane Cooray, who was not even an exco
member. The intention was obviously to indicate Sumathipala had nothing
to do with it despite the letter of authentification being signed by
Sumathipala and Merinnage.
That
would then, it was believed, give Sumathipala an opportunity of saying
he simply signed what was forwarded to him.
What
Pathmaperuma told the CID was that Cooray had asked the monies allocated
to him to be given to 'Godage.'
Now,
if Cooray had collected his allowance, then the question of asking his
share to be given to 'Godage' does not arise. That infact is the
reality.
Temporary
amnesia
Cooray
at the time of his death was Secretary, Umpires Committee and Curator
for the Moratuwa Cricket Stadium. Cooray also travelled to the UK in
1999 to watch the cricket world cup.
But
this defence is exploded on a reading of page 4 of the minutes which
clearly indicated Cooray too had collected his monies and that too was
written off. It was written off because Cooray had by this time passed
away. He died from terminal cancer on July 1, 1999, days after he
returned from the UK critically ill.
Page
4 of the minutes of February 28, 2001 has listed as item 3., under the
heading 'ACE's Submissions' that Mariane Cooray's expenses for the World
Cup must also be written off.
The
statement reiterates thus: "World Cup - Mr. Mariane Cooray's
travelling expenses to be written off." According to the minutes
the amount given to Cooray was to be written off on a submission by the
then acting chief executive officer of the Cricket Board Anura Tennakoon.
It
is now proved on the basis of the minutes that both Cooray and 'Godage'
had received monies. The cricket board decided to "write off"
the monies allocated to Mariane Cooray because he had expired. In
contrast, Godage alias Dhammika Amarasinghe was very much alive.
When
questioned, Anura Tennakoon said, "I just cannot remember off the
record having given such a directive I will have to refer the
minutes." He added that in any event according to the constitution
of the Cricket Board, the CEO acting or otherwise has no authority to
give such a directive. "It could only be done with the full
approval of the executive committee and the treasurer," he said.
Tennakoon's
statements only serves to magnify the fact that the entire exco members
of the Cricket Board knowingly in the same manner "wrote off"
the 1,500 sterling pounds, which had been given to an underworld figure.
How can Trevor Rajaratnam in his position as Treasurer claim 'he cannot
recall at all' having 'written off' the monies?
The
Board constitution deems that the Hony. Treasurer, which post Rajaratnam
held in 1999 and 2001 "shall be authorised to endorse cheques,
order and the like to the credit of the Board, in its Banks." In
fact all cheques at the Board must be signed by two signatories, one of
whom shall be the President or in his absence, a Vice President; the
other shall be the Hony. Treasurer or in his absence the Hony. Secretary
or the Hony. Assistant Treasurer.
Pathetic
performance
This
being indeed the case, Rajaratnam is certainly not fit to hold the
prestigious position of Hony. Treasurer at Sri Lanka Cricket or for that
matter the entire exco, most of whom continue to sit in the present exco,
rubber stamping Sumathipala's directives. What is worse is that
Rajaratnam has abused his office at the Cricket Board by not just
approving the monies given to Buddhika Godage be written off, but
classifying that recommendation, under the item of 'World Cup
officials.' He has therefore by inference approved that Godage who was
and still is none other than an underworld killer be listed as an
official of the BCCSL. And to this sorry state of affairs, Mohan de
Silva attested his signature.
According
to the Cricket Board constitution the Honorary Secretary, which posts
Mohan de Silva continues to hold shall, among other duties, "cause
true and correct accounts to be kept of all monies received and expanded
by the Board and of matters in respect of which such receipt and
expenditure take place and of the assets and liabilities of the board
and of all financial affairs, transactions and agreements and other
matters necessary for showing the true financial position of the
board."
That
Mohan de Silva has admitted to this newspaper that he approved 1,500
sterling pounds be written off to an individual he claims he has
"no idea who he is," is pathetic to say the least.
Even
more intriguing is a letter written by Mohan de Silva to the Chairman,
HNB, Chrishantha Cooray on October 21, 2003 severely reprimanding Cooray
and his management namely the bank's Managing Director, Rienzie
Wijetilleke for a "breach of secrecy and fiduciary duty and
responsibility."
Mohan
de Silva takes high moral ground with the bank accusing them of leaking
information to The Sunday Leader. But, he does not at any stage deny the
damning evidence proved in two letters signed by Thilanga Sumathipala,
Lucien Merinnage and Subash Pathmaperuma, to HNB to release a sum of
sterling pounds 1,500 to Buddhika Priyashantha Godage who it has been
proved is the underworld killer Dhammika Amarasinghe.
Web
of deceit
Mohan
de Silva dares to take this stand after having signed an official
document at the Cricket Board recommending that these monies released to
Godage be written off. And then he admits to The Sunday Leader that to
date, he is clueless as to who this Godage could be. The entire Cricket
Board appears to be following the old adage, "what a web we weave,
when we practice to deceive."
Remember
it is this same Board that has remained immune to the evidence that its
President Thilanga Sumathipala had consciously used Cricket Board funds
to finance a tour to the UK in 1999 for a wanted underworld killer.
Sumathipala did so knowing full well that the mafia style gang leader
Dhammika Amarasinghe was using a forged passport in order to travel to
the UK to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup. Yet, executive members of Sri
Lanka Cricket have not had the spine to take a firm stand on this issue,
but instead have resorted to a 'cover-up' for a man who is nothing, but
a common thug and a disgrace to Sri Lankan cricket.
It
is shocking infact how respected persons such as the Chairman, People's
Bank, Lal Nanayakkara continues to serve in the Cricket Board given
these damning revelations.
The
Cricket Board is doubtless aware that the dreaded underworld goon
Dhammika Amarasinghe even travelled on the same flight as Thilanga
Sumathipala did in May 1999.
A
fellow traveller who has requested anonymity said that he remembers
Dhammika because the latter had requested him to give his seat in
business class so he could be within eye contact of his
"boss."
"Mage
boss issaraha inne," he had said, pointing to Thilanga Sumathipala
who was seated in first class on the UL 505 flight to London.
But
given the denials of the exco members regarding knowledge of Dhammika
Amarasinghe alias "Godage," it is an even more telling
indictment on Sumathipala since it then become clear he has together
with Merinnage engineered the whole drama.
Meanwhile,
our investigation found that the house at Kawdana Road, Dehiwela where
an underworld gang staked a hideout after murdering Baddegana Sanjeewa,
a fellow gang leader and former officer of the Presidential Security
Division, belongs to Thilanga Sumathipala and his wife Samadara.
The
registered owner of the house at 40b3, Kawdana Road, Dehiwela is V. H.
Wimalaratne, father-in-law to Thilanga Sumathipala. The resident owners
of this house are now Mrs. S. Sumathipala and Thilanga Sumathipala.
House
belonging to Sumathipala
On
this lane, there are three houses and one block of land, all of which
originally belonged to V. H. Wimalaratne. House 40b2 is owned by Mrs. S.
Sumathipala. 40b3 is owned by Mrs. S. Sumathipala and Thilanga
Sumathipala. 40b4 is a bare block of land still in the name of V. H.
Wimalaratne and 40b6 is also in the name of V. H. Wimalaratne.
Records
at the Dehiwela Municipal Council established this fact beyond a shadow
of doubt.
Mahinda
Godage alias 'Bada Mahinda' in recorded statements to the CID has
repeatedly confessed his active participation in a number of killings
and attempted murders some of which he has stated were planned and
financed by Sumathipala. Godage has implicated Sumathipala also in a
confession he made before the Gangodawila Magistrate Pradeep
Hettiarachchi.
Bada
Mahinda in his second recorded statement to the CID has reiterated that
the "Thilanga boss" he refers to in his confession to the
Gangodawila Magistrate is Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom and President, Sri
Lanka Cricket, Thilanga Sumathipala.
Bada
Mahinda on Saturday, October 26, identified four places where the
underworld gang led by Dhammika had murdered and attempted murder.
At
the two storied house at 40b3, Kawdana Road, Dehiwela, Bada Mahinda says
the underworld gang led by Dhammika Amarasinghe had lived for over one
month in hiding after the murder of Baddegana Sanjeewa.
According
to Bada Mahinda, an old woman used to cook for them while they stayed at
this house. He once more told sleuths on Saturday how he believes the
house belongs to the Sumathipalas after he came upon an electricity bill
in the name of Sumathipala.
The
question then arises whether Samadara and her father were aware that
their house was provided as a safe house to a band of ruthless
murderers?
He
has told police that while the gang lived at this house, a man who to
him resembled a businessman, visited Dhammika with food and drink. He
claims each time this man arrived at the house he and the other
underworld figures were confined to a bedroom and warned by Dhammika not
to come out. He says however, that he one day peeped from the bedroom
and saw a small made dark complexioned man who he has told police he is
in a position to identify.
Overseas
calls
Bada
Mahinda, since pointing out this house to sleuths at the CID has
confided to inmates at the Welikada Prison that numerous messages have
been sent to him from Thilanga Sumathipala who he alleges has telephoned
trusted jailors from overseas telling them to ask Bada Mahinda why he
pointed out the house which belongs to him.
After
securing a court order, the CID on Saturday, 26, took Bada Mahinda out
of the Welikada Prison to identify the houses where criminal offences
had been committed. He had first correctly directed a convoy of police
and army vehicles to the home of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Editor of The
Sunday Leader at 17/1, Kandewatte Terrace, Nugegoda. There he once more
recounted to sleuths from the CID what happened on the night of July 17,
1998.
He
noted to the CID that the front gate had been changed from the night
when he says he together with Dhammika and another underworld figure
Jackpot Chaminda arrived at the Wickrematunge home at around 10.30 p.m.
He says Jackpot Chaminda got off the vehicle they were travelling in
walked upto the front gate of the Wickrematunge home and emptied a
volley of gun fire at the house through a grill that ran horizontally
along the gate. Wickrematunge a week after this attack changed his front
gate to one that now has no grill work on it.
Bada
Mahinda had also accurately told the CID that he remembers at the time
of the attack a red pajero jeep and a car being parked inside the garage
of Wickrematunge's house.
He
then proceeded to show police a small by lane off Poorvarama Road
Kirulopane where he says after the shooting on Wickrematunge's home the
underworld gang had stopped the van they were travelling in and Dhammika
had got off and changed the number plates.
Bada
Mahinda had also identified to police a 40 perch block of land behind a
timber store at Kotte, which he says was purchased by Dhammika for Rs.
65 lakhs. A 12 foot high wall runs around this land and inside it has
been used as a shooting range. The wall is pockmarked with bullet holes.
Entry to the land is barred by a massive iron gate.
The
next spot pointed out by Bada Mahinda was an area close to the Sri
Jayewardenapura Hospital where he says the underworld gang led by
Dhammika burnt two bodies of two men Dhammika claimed had killed his
brother Chinthaka. Dhammika had cut off the head of one of these bodies
and discarded the 'manne' style knife in a ditch off the Thalawathugoda
Road.
The
dismembered head Dhammika had placed at the spot in Grandpass where his
brother had been gunned down.
Bada
Mahinda then led the CID to an isolated garage at Vidayaraja Mawatha,
Hokandara West where he says the underworld gang used to change number
plates on the vehicles they would travel in to carry out murder and
mayhem. This garage according to Bada Mahinda belongs to Jackpot
Chaminda's cousin.
Given
the mounting evidence against Sumathipala, the question the public is
asking is whether he would be in a position to use his influence to stay
above the law.
|
Desmond
Fernando's letter to the AG
The
Hon. K.C. Kamalasabayson, P.C,
Attorney General
Attorney General Chambers
Colombo 12.
Hon.
Attorney General,
Re-Complaints
made by Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, President, Sri Lanka Cricket and
Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd.
I
thank you for the kind courtesy extended to me and Mr. Ananda
Wijesekere P.C., to promptly meet you for a discussion on Friday,
October 17, 2003, in relation to our client, Mr. Thilanga
Sumathipala's complaint, at which discussion, Solicitor General,
Mr. C.R. de Silva, P.C. was also present.
Our
Client, Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala, has already forwarded to you
copies of his letters dated September 15, 2003 addressed to the
Hon. Prime Minister and dated September 29, 2003 addressed to the
former Inspector General of Police, the contents of which letters
are self-explanatory. Consequently, the Inspector General of
Police had afforded personal security to our client, as was deemed
warranted.
At
the said discussion, we brought to your attention, the serious
matter of the alleged "contents" of confessions made to
the police and a Magistrate in Chambers, having been disclosed in
The Sunday Leader, even prior to and also after such confessions,
thereby giving credence to the fact, that the inquiries under
reference are conspiringly being state managed by interested
persons. Even steps intended to be taken by the CID have been
pre-disclosed.
Already
two falsehoods in such reporting have been complained of, one by
the Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr. Rumy Marzook, copy of his
letter of October 1, 2003 is attached, and second, a denial by the
Hon. Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris of his
implication or involvement, as had been falsely reported; thereby
raising the question of credibility of such reporting.
You
would, no doubt, appreciate that law requires inquires to be
conducted objectively and impartially, ensuring confidentiality,
which has to be adhered to in investigation and judicial
proceedings, without causing prejudice in the public domain and
denying natural justice. Our said client has already been accused,
tried, pre-judged, convicted and sentenced, in a reckless and
arbitrary manner in the public domain by persons taking the law
into their own hands, as it were. The inquiries are thus flawed.
Our
client has complained that The Sunday Leader Editor, Mr. Lasantha
Wickrematunge and Reporter, Ms. Federica Jansz, acting on their
own and presumably also at the behest of other interested parties,
have been carrying out a persistent malicious campaign against
him, in respect of inquiries which are being conducted by the CID,
reportedly being "directed" by the Solicitor General
(which as you will agree could not be true). Notwithstanding our
client's complaint, the perverse reporting has regardlessly
persisted, including up to October 19, 2003. - supposed exposures
so far on a one sides basis.
Our
client had copied to you, letter dated October 13, 2003 addressed
to the Editor, Reporter and Publisher of The Sunday Leader,
together with the copies of documents attached thereto, requiring
that the said documents be given the same publicity and coverage,
(copies attached for easy reference). Questionably, these,
however, have not been published, thereby revealing the real
motive and intention by no means journalism; for our client to be
shunned by right thinking people in society - vide The Sunday
Leader Editorial of October 19, 2003; with those persons, usurping
lawful authority, allegedly instigating/ "directing" the
conduct of inquiries.
Details
of the inquiries have been given wide publicity, and the so-called
inquiries are being conducted in the full public glare, with
disclosure of allegations and information, causing prejudice, not
only in the minds of the public, but also in the minds of the
judiciary, thereby denying our client the constitutional right of
equal protection of the law and natural justice; whilst causing
him grave injustice.
The
Sunday Leader has continuously disclosed "informations,"
as reported to have been allegedly given by the Solicitor General,
the CID, and our client believes, by the Managing Director of a
BCCSL Banker.
We
urge you to investigate this improper conduct: the
"leakage" of information, the publication of a
confidential judicial proceeding, namely the
"confession," and of the Police investigation.
Yours
sincerely,
Desmond
Fernando, P.C
CC: Mr. C.R. de Silva, P.C., Solicitor General
Mr.
Ananda Wijesekere P.C. |
*
* *
|
De
Silva caught in a web of lies
When
told about the minute with his signature approving the payment of
sterling pounds 1,500 to Buddhika Godage must be written off,
Mohan de Silva said he could not remember signing such a document.
He then countered that there is absolutely no reference to a
Godage in the minutes of the February 28, 2001 exco meeting.
We
then asked de Silva to read out the contents at the bottom of page
11 of the detailed minutes. Upon doing so he read out item 2.
Which states that 1,500 sterling pounds to "Mr. Godage"
be written off. "Yes, it is here," Mohan de Silva said,
adding when quizzed that he has no idea who "Mr. Godage"
is.
Asked
if he and the other exco members merely rubber stamp documents at
the Cricket Board, de Silva denied doing so asserting that every
document signed is studied in detail. Yet, he was forced to admit
that in this instance despite being completely unaware who
"Mr. Godage" could be, he approved and signed the
minutes of that day's exco meeting recommending that a sum of
sterling pounds 1,500 (Rs. 184,155) used from the funds of the
Cricket Board be written off to an individual he had absolutely no
knowledge about. "This would have been submitted by
Finance," he said, by way of some explanation.
"I
take full responsibility for having signed this document," he
reiterated. Asked what exactly he meant by taking full
responsibility given that it has been proved that "Mr. Godage"
in this instance is the dreaded underworld killer Dhammika
Amarasinghe, Mohan de Silva did not elaborate.
He
said, "I cannot comment on that aspect." Pressed
further, he asserted that in his statement to the CID he has
maintained that he had never heard off nor does he know an
individual by the name of Buddhika Priyashantha Godage. He added
the CID had shown him copies of the forged passport Dhammika had
obtained in the name of Buddhika Priyashantha Godage, but de Silva
has maintained to the CID he knows nothing in this regard. |
*
* *
|
Fernando's
appearance in question
President's
Counsel Desmond Fernando, a man perceived as a human rights
activist, in a letter to Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabayson on
October 22, 2003, has requested the AG to investigate the
"improper conduct: the leakage" of information, the
publication of a confidential judicial proceeding, namely the
"confession" and of the police investigation.
He
charges that The Sunday Leader either acting on its own and
presumably at the behest of other interested parties, have been
carrying out a persistent malicious campaign against Thilanga
Sumathipala.
Desmond
Fernando represents Sri Lanka Cricket for the International
Cricket Council. It would indeed be interesting to see if the ICC
adjudicates this case what Fernando's position will be since he is
already appearing for Sumathipala.
The
same minutes of the February 28, 2001 emergency meeting states
under the category of finances - legal expenses which classified
as item 26., refers to a letter dated January 31, 2001 from
Messrs. Abdeen Associates to the commercial case no. 20.2001 where
payments inter alia have been approved as follows:
Desmond
Fernando PC - Rs. 360,000
Abdeen
Associates - Rs. 470,000
Since
Desmond Fernando is now appearing for Sumathipala, it would
certainly be in the public interest to know on what basis is
Fernando charging his fee - whether in a private capacity to
Sumathipala or in an official capacity.
The
level of fees charged will also be of interest to set the record
straight that the fees charged from the Board and Sumathipala are
on par.
Otherwise,
it would be open to argue that the Board in future will be called
upon to subsidise fees of Sumathipala's personal cases.
"UNF
lacks discipline and accountability"
People's
Alliance MP, Arjuna Ranatunga on addressing a meeting of the
National Patriotic Movement at Anuradhapura on Tuesday referring
to the recent exposes on Thilanga Sumathipala chided the
government for its lack of discipline and accountability.
Ranatunga
had pointed out that it is the United National Front (UNF) that
promised transparency, but when damning evidence has been
unearthed against the Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman, the UNF has to
date remained tightlipped on the scandalous charges.
Ranatunga
has maintained that there is little point in Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe disciplining members of Pradeshiya Sabhas, but
turning a blind eye to the actions of an individual like
Sumathipala against whom the allegations are far more damning.
"Is
he not taking action because Sumathipala played the pivotal role
in bringing this government to office as claimed?" Ranatunga
asked.
Points
that ICC should take note of
For
the record, it is important at this juncture to point out that
Thilanga Sumathipala holding office as Sri Lanka Cricket President
is in violation to an ICC executive board resolution passed
unanimously by all the members of the executive board in May 2000.
The
Board resolution is in force and binding with effect from May 3,
2000. Its effect is to render negligible for membership of the ICC
any member country whose governing body for cricket appoints to
its Board or any committee an individual who has been or is
associated with the gambling industry. It also renders such an
individual ineligible for appointment to the executive board of
the ICC or to any ICC committee.
In
1997, Thilanga Sumathipala sued two UK based betting companies.
The two companies were Racing Pages Limited and The British
Horseracing Board Limited. Sumathipala sued the two companies in
the high court of justice in the Chancery Division in the UK.
What
is of importance here is that to a British court of law Thilanga
Sumathipala declared himself to be the plaintiff and identified
himself to be the owner of a chain of betting shops in Sri Lanka
as well as that he publishes a newspaper in Sri Lanka for the
purpose of those shops.
In
this case (CH 1997 S No. 566) Thilanga Sumathipala identified
himself as the plaintiff and owner of Sumathi Holdings which owns
and manages a number of betting shops in Sri Lanka.
Sumathipala
lost this case and was ordered by the UK High Court to pay Racing
Pages Limited sterling pounds 29,400 and another sterling pounds
35,640 to The British Horseracing Board Limited.
In
fact upto October 1, this year, Sumathipala maintained a betting
collection centre at his home at 59, Campbell Terrace in Punchi
Borella. It was only after the ICC questioned him on this he moved
the center to Grandpass.
Questions
for the ICC...
Sri
Lanka Cricket President, Thilanga Sumathipala in view of the
damning evidence against him is in serious violation of the code
of ethics of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The
overriding objectives of the code are to enhance the reputation of
the ICC, to foster public confidence in the ICC's governance and
administration of the sport of cricket worldwide and in particular
to strengthen its authority to deal with corruption.
This
requires the guardians of this sport "to conform to the
highest standards of honesty, impartiality, equity and integrity
when discharging their duties and responsibilities."
The
ICC code of ethics in fact demands that it should be read and
understood as a minimum standard of acceptable conduct.
Directors
of the sport worldwide are called upon not to engage in any
conduct that in any way denigrates the ICC or harms its public
image. The code
reiterates that, "No funds or assets of the ICC may be used
for any unlawful purpose, and no director may engage in unlawful
conduct."
Clause
7.2 under the sub title betting, gaming or gambling states:
"No director shall have any business association or enter
into any business arrangement (whether formal or informal) with
any person or company who has interests in gambling or any other
form of financial speculation on the outcome of any sporting event
anywhere in the world if such association or arrangement involves
the payment of any monies to or by, or the conferring of any
benefits or advantages upon or by, the director either directly or
indirectly for entering into such association or arrangement (but,
for the avoidance of doubt, the receipt of winnings by directors
as a result of successful gambling on any matter unconnected with
cricket shall not of itself constitute a breach of the code).
The
code even states that the ICC will take serious note of any
official representing a cricket authority in any member country is
found to induce or encourage any other person to gamble or enter
into any other form of financial speculation on any match or any
event.
Sumathipala
until October 1, this year had a betting collection centre at his
home at 59, Campbell Terrace, Borella. It was moved to Grandpass only last month. |
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