SLC explains Thilanga's issue
Due to recent media reports carrying contradictory information
regarding the position taken by the ICC on the nomination tendered by
Thilanga Sumathipala MP for the post of President of Sri Lanka Cricket,
we issue this statement of facts communicated to Sri Lanka Cricket by
Alan Isaac, President of the ICC on being informed of Thilanga's
nomination.
Isaac, by letter dated 5th March 2013 has inter alia, informed Sri
Lanka cricket that during the years 2003 to 2005 the investigations
carried out by the ICC Anti Corruption Surveillance Unit and the ICC
Ethics Officer found that there was evidence that Sumathipala was in
breach of the ICC Code of Ethics primarily through his relationship with
the Sporting Star bookmaking business in Sri Lanka. Although Sumathipala
had denied such a breach of the ICC Code of Ethics, previous statements
given by him under oath appeared to contradict the denial. In order to
give Sumathipala a full hearing Goolam Vahanvati, renowned Indian Judge
and member of the ICC's Code of Conduct Commission was appointed to
inquire into this matter.
Before that hearing could be convened, Sri Lanka Cricket removed
Sumathipala as its nominee director to the ICC Board. With this
circumstances, Sumathipala claimed that, since he is no longer a
director, it is no longer appropriate that the hearing into his alleged
breaches of the Code of Ethics should continue. Accordingly, no hearing
was ever convened in this respect and no formal decision issued.
Instead, in June 2005, the ICC Board resolved that if Sumathipala was
ever nominated by SLC as its representative on the Board again, he would
not be entitled to take up that position until the hearing process took
place and a decision was finally made as to whether or not he had
committed a breach of the Code of Ethics. In the circumstances, although
Sumathipala is not currently prohibited from standing in the SLC
elections by the ICC, the above ICC Board resolution is still valid and
if Sumathipala is nominated by SLC as its representative to the Board of
Directors of the ICC such nomination cannot take effect until the
inquiry into the alleged breaches by Sumathipala is concluded.
Therefore, if Sumathipala is elected to SLC, he cannot represent Sri
Lanka at the ICC.
The ICC has also informed SLC that where appropriate, the Ethics
Officer of the ICC can conduct an investigation, hold a hearing and also
recommend sanctions (including but not limited to a recommendation to
remove a director under Article 4.11(f) of the ICC Memorandum and
Articles) to the ICC Executive Board for its ultimate determination.
The seriousness of this issue is that the election of a person, whose
conduct and ethical standards are in question by the ICC would have a
very negative effect on the image of Sri Lanka, its people, the
governance of the game of cricket and the SLC. This press release has
been issued by Upali Dharmadasa in his capacity as the serving President
of SLC and the SLC representative on the ICC Board of Directors; which
makes it his responsibility to correct any misinformation being
circulated in the public domain.
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