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by Dinesh Weerawansa

Secretary of the BCCSL Interim Committee, Kushil Gunasekera said yesterday that he and three others would tender their resignations today. Besides Gunasekera, the others who are stepping down over the selection of Thilanga Sumathilapa are Micheal Tissera, Sidat Wettimuny and Tryphone Mirando.

"Four of us have decided to tender our resignations from the InterimCommittee as a protest of an outsider being named to represent Sri Lanka at the ICC meeting. Its not the personality but on principle. I will hand over the four resignation letters to the Sports Ministry on Monday," he said. The Chairman or President of the BCCSL administration should be made ICC Director. We are against any person, outside the interim committee, being nominated, undermining the position of the Interim Committee chairman," he said.

Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Johnston Fernando earlier appointed BCCSL Interim Committee chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya and former BCCSL

President Thilanga Sumathipala as Sri Lanka's representatives to the International Cricket Council (ICC). Amarasuriya, who was recently made the chairman of the BCCSL Interim committee, has been appointed to be a Director of the ICC. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Telecom chairman, Sumathipala has been appointed as Alternate Director.

Explaining the appointments of Amarasuriya and Sumathipala, Minister Johnston Fernando said last night that he had to take the final decision on the matter at last Thursday's meeting of the BCCSL Interim Committee was divided on the matter.

Minister Fernando, explaining why an Alternate Director too was appointed, said Sumathipala has been a victim of injustice in the past. "He had to face some bad experience in the past.

The investigations on the PSD involvement at the last BCCSL elections are now on. We can not forget to contribution Sumathipala has made for Sri Lanka cricket. That's why we have made him an alternate Director," Minister Fernando said.

The BCCSL Interim committee, at their Thursday's meeting, was to decide on Sri Lanka's representative to the executive board of the world governing body. But they failed to arrive at a final decision as the committee members were divided on the matter.

Hence, Minister Fernando, under the powers vested on him under the sports law of 1973, had to take the final decision. Sri Lanka Cricket Board has been under an interim administration since March last year, after then Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella dissolved the executive committee headed by Sumathipala. However, Vijay Malalasekera was replaced by Amarasuriya as the Interim committee chairman from April this year, though some members of Malalasekera's original interim administration retained their places.

However, a solution to the power crisis at the country's cricket governing body is expected to be found soon.

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