A petition has been filed in the Court of Appeal against the reelection of Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala requesting the court to issue an injunction preventing him from contesting for the post again.
The petition has been filed by Nishantha Ranatunga, a candidate for the post of Chairman and a former Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
The petitioner has named 27 persons including the Sports Minister Faizer Mustapha, Sports Ministry Secretary, members of the Cricket board and SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala as respondents.
The petitioner said in the petition that the nomination of Thilanga Sumathipala, who contests for the presidency of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board on May 31, is against the law.
According to the counsels representing Nishantha Ranatunga, the petition has cited that Thilanga Sumathipala has directly and indirectly involved in gambling, trading in sports goods, owning shares of a media institution and contravening ICC Anti-Corruption Laws.
Accordingly, if Thilanga Sumathipala contests for the post, it will violate the provisions of the Sports Act, the petitioner states.
The petitioner also states that the committee appointed to hold the SLC elections is also in violation of Law.
Therefore, the Petitioner requests the Court of Appeal to issue an Interim Order to prevent Thilanga Sumathipala from contesting for the post of president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board until the final decision is taken against him regarding the petition.
However, SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala rejects the allegations.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the petition filed by Nishantha Ranatunga will be considered on Wednesday (May 30).
Submission of nominations for the election of a new administration for the Sri Lanka Cricket to be held on the 31st of May ended last Monday (May 21).
Accordingly, current president Thilanga Sumathipala has been nominated for the president of SLC by a number of sports clubs.
