Sri Lanka won’t bow down to ICC pressure, says Minister

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that Sri Lanka would not bow down to ICC pressure but will hold Cricket Board elections early next year in order to reinstate democracy at Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Minister made these comments during a press briefing held to introduce the newly appointed Interim Committee members of the SLC at the Sports Ministry Auditorium in Reid Avenue yesterday.

The new Interim Committee will comprise former SLC Chairman Upali Dharmadasa (Chairman), Prakash Schaffter (Secretary), Nimal Perera (Treasurer) and former Sri Lanka opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny (Member).

Minister Aluthgamage revealed that under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa fresh elections of the SLC will be held in January 2012 for an appointment of an executive committee.

Earlier the ICC decided to ban countries from making political appointments to national boards as they vowed to free the sport from undue influence and outright government interferences.

However Minister Aluthgamage said that they could hold the SLC elections even immediately but decided to appoint another Interim Committee for a period of six months in an attempt to set a perfect environment for the new officials.

The Minister believed that the new Interim Committee with their experience and knowledge will set the pace and iron out all major crisis both past and present for the betterment of the game.

He had already instructed the new Interim Committee to concentrate on few important things during this period and on top of the order is discipline and followed by a good relationship between the players and the administration.