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“Surcharge SLC officials for wasting money”-Rienzie
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Former Interim Committee Chairman Rienzie Wijethileke lashed out at the Thilanga Sumathipala cricket administration and has strongly urged the Ministry of sports to consider ‘surcharging’ the President and executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket 2004 for wasteful and irresponsible utilization of public funds.

Speaking to The Sunday Times on the backdrop of recent allegations made by Sumathipala, Wijethileke who is currently overlooking the finances of the current interim committee said, “Our investigations reveal that the President and the Ex co of SLC had no control over the expenditure with a large office staff, many of them doing next to nothing. Their level of expenditure and extravagance out of funds earned by the cricketers and out of sponsorships appears most irresponsible. The Ministry should strongly consider surcharging the 2004 SLC President and Ex co for wasteful and irresponsible utilization of public funds”.

Excess employees
Wijethileke who is the chairman of one of Sri Lanka’s most successful banks is of the view that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is not managed properly. “The Cricket Board today is run in the most irresponsible manner. Their income is not from the clubs but from players and sponsorships. But the manner in which these funds are spent is most unfortunate and disgraceful. On top of this you have a staff numbering 80 plus when I strongly believe that the work at SLC could be done with just 15 employees”.

Extravagant spending
He further states that the SLC declared a loss of 320mn last year which could have been reduced if there was control on wastage, misuse and unwarranted expenditure. “What is alarming is that the treasurer has warned the Ex co last year at a couple of meetings that the cash flow at SLC was not satisfactory. However despite such warnings the SLC continued to spend money.

unnecessarily. They incurred a 30mn expenditure on legal cum professional charges for the year, which was extremely excessive. It also appears that some of the payments are in respect of disputes of individuals with the ICC. In one instance 20,000 sterling pounds were paid in March this year to a lawyer in England to defend an individual. Travelling expenses increased by 100%, contributions to cricket clubs increased by Rs.20mn and maintenance of cricket venues and upgrading has cost Rs 48mn”.

Cricket Aid - a white elephant
Wijethileke also criticized the setting up of Cricket-Aid. “I cannot justify a separate cricket – aid fund at SLC. We all need to do something to help the victims of the tsunami. But what SLC should have done was to channel all funds received to a responsible NGO or government organization instead of setting up cricket–aid. The salary bill of persons employed at cricket–aid is over 165,000 a month plus EPF and ETF which also includes 75,000 plus a vehicle for a CEO. How can you incur such expenses on a monthly basis to do charity without a definite income source? It’s an absolute waste of money. By any standards this is beyond comprehension. It’s another white elephant, set up to promote someone’s personal agenda and give employment to their own people!”

When asked what the solution to this continuing crisis at SLC is, the veteran with over 40 years of experience in administration replied saying, “Cricket should be taken out of the sports law, as it is a different game. It should be run under a specific law and a separate authority accountable to the public through Parliament or COPE”.

Thilanga is bluffing-Rienzie
Veteran Banker Rienzie Wijethilake has vehemently refuted allegations by Thilanga Sumathipala in The Sunday Times last week. Sumathipala has stated that Wijethileke played out money of the SLC during his tenure as chairman of the interim committee by depositing millions in his bank at an interest rate that was lower than other Banks.

Wijethileke who is also in the current interim committee reacted angrily saying, “All this is bluff. Thilanga is trying to get over all his problems he is facing in the cricket world by giving various excuses. I have been in the professional life for over 40 years and I know what ethics and norms are which I am sure Mr Sumathipala does not know”.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Wijethileke said, “All fixed deposits were opened after responding to quotations called by the Finance Manager of the Cricket Board and in all instances Hatton National Bank rates were the highest. In addition a host of other banking services like issues of travellers cheques, both foreign and local were carried out without any commissions while other banking related special services (extended only to good customers) were also done without any charges. All these increased the effective interest rate offered by HNB by a further one percent”.

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