Wettimuny and Gomes in SLC Interim

Dinesh Weerawansa

CRICKET: Tamil Union President, Chandra Schaffter, who has been in the centre of controversy over poor working conditions at Sri Lanka's second Test against Bangladesh at the Sara Stadium has been shown the door by the Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge.

The Sports Minister has demanded resignations from Schaffter and Damian Fernando, brother-in-law of former Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaramatunga, as members of the Sri LankaCricket (SLC) Interim Committee.

When contacted last night, Minister Lokuge confirmed that Schaffter and Fernando have been asked to resign from the SLC Interim Committee. "We plan to reshuffle the Interim Committee. Once I get their letters of resignation, we would name a fresh Interim Committee," he said.

However, Minister Lokuge said there would be no change in the top seats as SLC Interim Committee Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa and Secretary K. Mathivanan would continue to remain in their positions. Dharmadasa will now get his third successive one-year term as Sri Lanka cricket chief.

Informed sources said former Sri Lanka Test opener Sidat Wettimuny and Sri Lanka Boxing chief Dian Gomes would replace Shafter and Fernando in the new Interim Committee. Besides Dharmadasa and Mathivanan, the only remaining member of the previous Interim Committee would be Treasurer Sujeewa Rajapakse. Wettimuny, who turns 51 years next month, is one of the most technically sound batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced.

He has represented Sri Lanka in 22 Tests (1,221 runs at an average of 29.07 with two centuries) and 35 one day internationals (786 runs - ave. 24.56). On retirement from international cricket ten years ago, he initially served as a match referee and later became Chairman of selectors and Interim Committee member.

Former Royal boxer Gomes has been a big time sports promoter and has been heading the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka with distinction. The CEO of garment giant MAS Holdings, Gomes is also a Vice President of the National Olympic Committee. Gomes has played a key role as a sports administrator and was Sri Lanka's chef-de-mission for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

However, Sports Ministry sources said the strength of the SLC Interim Committee would be extended to seven, from the present number of five. Sources added veteran cricket commentator and ex-Nalanda cricketer Premasara Epasinghe too would be included when the SLC Interim Committee is extended to seven.

"We are considering a few more names but no final decision has been taken," the sources added.

Meanwhile, the SLC Interim Committee had its last meeting yesterday and both Schaffter and Fernando were present at the meeting chaired by Dharmadasa.

SLC sources said last night that the duo would tender their resignations today, enabling the Sports Minister to name a fresh interim committee.

Sri Lanka's richest sports governing body - the SLC, is run by an interim administration since former Sports Minister sacked the last elected Ex-Co Mohan de Silva in April, 2005. Though there was a move to have fresh elections later, the AGM was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

The likely new SLC Interim Committee: Jayantha Dharmadasa (Chairman), K. Mathivanan (Secretary), Sujeewa Rajapakse, Sidat Wettimuny, Dian Gomes.