Minister requests Algama report

Samantha Algama

The Minister of Sports and recreation Gamini Lokuge has requested for a complete report on the removal of the Media Manager of Sri Lanka Cricket, Samantha Algama.

Speaking to The Sunday Times from Giranduru Kotte on Friday, where the People’s Alliance May Day rally was held the Minister said “When I inquired from the SLC authorities on this move, they said that Algama was removed with the mandate of the Interim Committee. Nevertheless I requested for a full report on the sudden development upon my return to Colombo”.

The affable SLC cricket manager Algama was removed through a telephone call on Wednesday evening by the CEO-SLC Duleep Mendis who informed him about the decision to remove him from the post of Media Manager.

Though holding the position of Media Manager Algama did not take a monthly stipend or any other perks (barring a monthly fuel allowance for the past eight months) assigned to the post of Media Manager from Sri Lanka Cricket.

According to a senior interim committee member earlier the Interim Committee chairman Arjuna Ranatunga who met the hierarchy lamented that he was unhappy with a person holding such an important position of the SLC, but is not directly responsible for his actions. Ranatunga had sought the mandate of the IC to employ a paid Media Manager who is directly responsible to his employers after following the normal procedures like placing a public advertisement.

However Algama alleges that the reason for his removal was his close ties with the local and foreign media and his failure to defend some irregularities that was taking place at SLC.

However it is reported that despite the plea made to the IC, the SLC chairman has already placed former St. Thomas’ Kotte cricketer Shane Fernando as the SLC Media Manager, but no such proper procedures has been followed prior to the appointment.