Sports Minister backs down over Sumathipala's ICC nomination

Sri Lanka's Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando, has decided to revoke his decision to nominate former cricket board president Thilanga Sumathipala as the Sri Lanka's main representative at the forthcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board meeting in June.

The minister backed down after four members of the 10-member interim committee currently managing the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) threatened to resign if protocol was broken and Sumathipala, a non board member, was asked to attend the high profile meeting.

Speaking to CricInfo, the minister, who maintains that Sumathipala was treated unfairly by the previous PA government, which dissolved his administration in March 2001, said that Hemaka Amarasuriya, the recently appointed chairman of the interim committee, will represent Sri Lanka at the meeting, but Sumathipala will be his standby.

Before minister's decision, the secretary of the interim committee, Kushil Gunasekera, treasurer Tryphon Mirando, chairman of selectors Michael Tissera and former Test batsman Sidath Wettimuny confirmed that they were willing to resign over the issue as a matter of principal.

But although Fernando backed down, the decision to appoint Sumathipala as standby has still irked the four, who believe that an interim committee member should be appointed. They are now waiting on the minister to confirm his decision before considering what action to take.

But the minister's request had received some support in the interim committee at an emergency meeting on Thursday night. Lawrence Amarasena, a member of Sumathipala's previous executive committee, along with new appointees Ajith Jayasekara and Lucian Merrinnage are believed to have supported the proposed appointment.

Nalin Ladduwahetty said he would support the view of Interim Committee chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya whilst Roshan Mahanama did not attend the meeting.

The chairman did not call for a vote on the issue, deciding instead to hand over the decision to the minister.