Sri Lanka board in gambling claim

By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala

Sumathipala is a high-profile figure in Sri Lanka cricket

Sri Lanka's sports minister Jaeevan Kumaratunga has accused cricket board boss Thilanga Sumathipala of links with gambling in an ongoing row.

Kumaratunga told BBC Sinhala the International Cricket Council has sent a detailed report concerning Sumathipala's conduct.

"The ICC is also unhappy that anybody involved with gambling holding office in Sri Lanka cricket board," he said.

ICC spokesman Brendan McClements declined to speculate on the comments.

"I can only say that there is a code of ethics in place which prevents anybody related to betting industry holding offices," he told bbcsinhala.com.

"We are aware of the situation regarding the Sri Lanka cricket board, but we need to get more details before commenting on this."

Who elected him? The board was dissolved - who is going to accept him as president? Minister Jaeevan Kumaratunga

Sumathipala has continuously denied any involvement with gambling industry, saying it is his family who runs the business.

However, cricket commentator Manjula Wediwardhana claims Sumathipala admitted being a bookmaker in an interview with him.

"I am a bookmaker. That is my job. So I cannot get mathematics wrong," Sumathipala said in a tape-recorded interview.

The row broke out after the government dissolved Sri Lanka Cricket and replaced it with an interim committee.

Minister Kumaratunga said that Sumathipala's appointment as SLC president was illegitimate as holding an annual general meeting while the board was dissolved is illegal.

"Who elected him? The board was dissolved. Who is going to accept him as president?" he asked.

There was a cricket board when we left Sri Lanka; now we have nobody to contact Brendon Kuruppu Sri Lanka team manager

Sumathipala, however, claim that the minister does not have authority over the AGM or its election result.

"The minister can only suspend the registration of SLC. But we are the cricketing community in Sri Lanka. That community elected me as their president," he told the BBC.

Commentators believe the crisis may lead to revolt by the players.

But the manager of the Sri Lanka team in New Zealand Brendon Kuruppu said the players are not concerned of what is happening at the administration.

"There was a cricket board when we left Sri Lanka. Now we have nobody to contact. But the players are only focused on winning the series."