SLC Chief Jayantha vows to take Lankan cricket to the top

Thushan Jayasuriya

Jayantha Dharmadasa was elected uncontested as president while incumbent Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga was too retained his position without a contest at the Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Cricket held at the auditorium of BMICH yesterday.

Speaking to the media after his election as President, Dharmadasa said that he hopes to get the cooperation of all the members of the executive committee in his endeavour to bring the Sri Lanka team to the highest level in world cricket and make them the best team in the near future.

He said he will be more careful in awarding television rights for tournaments in the future. He also hopes to give the much needed foreign exposure to cricketers by arranging more ‘A’ tours and under 19 tours as he believed that the under 19 team will form the nucleus of the national team in the future.

Dharmadasa also promised to obtain the services of qualified coaches which would go a long way in improving the standard of our cricketers.

Nishantha Ranatunga, who was re-elected Secretary said that he hopes to unearth talented cricketers from rural areas and give them opportunities to play against cricketers from elite schools in Colombo to create healthy competition.

All executive committee members were of the opinion that the SLC election was conducted in a free and fair manner.

Present Vice President K.Mathivanan who received 113 votes retained his position while Mohan de Silva with 81 votes secured the other Vice President’s post ousting former Vice President Asanga Seneviratne who polled 68 votes.

Veteran cricket administrator Nusky Mohammed retained the treasurer’s post beating well known banker Eastman Narangoda .Mohamed received 87 votes while Narangoda got 55 votes.

Former St.Anthony’s Wattala cricketer and Bloomfield president Hirantha Perera was elected Assistant Secretary securing 79 votes overcoming Bandula Dissanayake who got 51 votes.

Former Royal cricket captain and well known banker Ajith Pasquel was elected as Assistant Treasurer obtaining 71 votes edging out Irwin Jayawardena who received 68 votes.