More confusion as cricket election nears-BY CALLISTUS DAVY

Mahanama College batsman Pavan Ratnayake cuts a ball to the boundary during his half century (75) in the second innings against Thurstan College at Thurstan ground yesterday. He made a hundred in the first innings (Pic Hirantha Gunathilaka)

Source:Sundayobserver

A game of hide and seek is taking place in the run-up to the election of office bearers to Sri Lanka Cricket as one camp was given a disputed extension towards legitimacy while the other side is targeting a legal challenge.

It comes in the wake of the Attorney General declaring that the term of the current Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration or incumbent camp which is seeking a second stint, had expired on February 20 following the opposing Ranatunga faction lodging a protest with Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa claiming they were illegally holding on to office.

Technically the challenger or Ranatunga faction claims they are in possession of documentary evidence while the defending champion or incumbent camp was given some breathing space by Minister Rajapaksa who issued a Gazette notification dated February 17 to the effect that the current administration of SLC had the right to continue until April 4.

The gazette declaration means that the incumbent camp has found a defence to claim that they submitted their mandatory accounts statement to the Auditor General before April 4 that was within the period in which election nominations closed on February 25.

But the outside or opposing Ranatunga faction insist they will seek a court verdict that the incumbent camp failed to submit their mandatory accounts statement before February 20 thus rendering their nominations invalid.

“If the status of the current SLC membership or administration was valid until April 4, why did the Minister have to seek the ruling of the Attorney General after we protested that they were staying on illegally”, said K Mathivanan who is contesting the president’s post from the Ranatunga faction at the May 20 election.

But the incumbent camp dismisses the claims made by the Ranatunga faction.

“We were confident right along of seeking a second term and always knew that we were within our right doing nothing wrong.

“Right from the beginning we made it clear and these claims are baseless”, said Mohan de Silva who is seeking a second term as secretary from the incumbent camp.