Uva Club files plaint

SANDASEN Marasinghe

The Uva Club filed a plaint before the Colombo District Court and pleaded to restrain Sri Lanka Cricket commencing the Division II Cricket Tournament 2007/2008 until they settle the legality of denying its team to play in the Division II Cricket Tournament.

The Uva club stated in the plaint that it played with the Old Vidyaliyans' Cricket Club of Kegalle in the semi finals in Division III Cricket Tournament and Uva Club lost the match. The Old Vidyalians' Cricket Club has qualified to the Division II Cricket Tournament though their team consisted of players who were not members of the club.

Colombo District Judge Sampath Wijeratne issued notice to the defendants to appear before the Court on March 4.

President of the Uva Club Janak Manoj Kariyapperuma filing the plaint cited ten including Sri Lanka Cricket of Maitland Place, Colombo 7 and Old Vidyalians' Cricket Club of Kegalle as defendants.

Plaintiff stated that the Uva Club promoted sports activities including cricket in the Uva District. Its team participated in the Division III Cricket Tournament 2007/2008 conducted by the Sri Lanka Cricket. It played in the semi finals with the Old Vidyalians' Cricket Club at Bloomfield grounds, Colombo on August 11, 2008 and lost.

Plaintiff further stated that it learnt later that their opponents consisted of players other than the members of the club.

The plaintiff prayed before the Court to make a declaration in favour of the Uva Club to participate the Division II Cricket Tournament and it was illegal for Old Vidyalians' Cricket Club to participate in the Division II Cricket Tournament.