Notice of Interim injunction on Chairman and Secretary of SLC Interim Committee

Sandasen Marasinghe

Colombo District Court Judge Sampath Wijeratne yesterday issued notice of Interim Injunction on Chairman and Secretary of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket in connection with relegating the under 23 team of Lankan Cricket Club, Piliyandala to Division II from Division 1. The notice is returnable on August 07.

The Court refused to issue enjoining order staying the Under 23 Youth Tournament 2009/10 which is scheduled to commence today as prayed by the plaintiffs, Chairman and General Secretary of Lankan Cricket Club Hiran Jayamanne and Sumeda de Vas respectively.

Plaintiffs stated that the Lankan Cricket Club (LCC) was an affiliated member of the Sri Lanka Cricket. Their team played under Division I at the Under 23 Youth Tournament 2008/09. Thereafter they were informed by letter dated November 17, 2008 that team was relegated to divisionIIaccording to their scores.

The plaintiffs further stated a defendant, Secretary to the Tournament Committee Gihan Weerasinghe through the letter dated April 7, 2009 addressing all clubs stated that the relegation system implemented for season 2008/09 in all tournaments would be withdrawn and would be effective until further notice.

Based on this the plaintiffs had a legitimate expectation that the team could play in the Division I at the Under 23 Youth Tournament 2009/10.

The plaintiffs further stated that without holding relegation rounds their team was placed at the Division II which was unjust. The Plaintiffs prayed before the Court to declare that placing the LCC team at Division II was illegal and issue an order making the defendants to place the LCC team at Division 1.

The plaintiffs also pleaded to issue an enjoining order staying the Under 23 Youth Tournament 2009/10 which is scheduled to commence today.