da cassino online： Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s bellicose former captain and current Member ofParliament, has commenced a legal battle against a proposed law that wouldprevent him from holding office in the Sri Lankan cricket board
Charlie Austin04-Mar-2002Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka’s bellicose former captain and current Member ofParliament, has commenced a legal battle against a proposed law that wouldprevent him from holding office in the Sri Lankan cricket board.Ranatunga’s lawyers submitted a petition to the Supreme Court in Colombo onMonday claiming that a proposed change to the sports law, which debarspoliticians from holding office in sports bodies, was a “violation of hishuman rights.”The court granted leave to proceed with his action and a hearing will now beheard on 13 May, potentially delaying the Board of Control for Cricket inSri Lanka’s Annual General Meeting until June.Sports Minister Johnston Fernando had earlier indicated that a cricket boardelection would be held before 31 March, but with no consensual candidate yetemerging for the Presidency, and Ranatunga’s legal battle having commenced,this is no longer possible.Ranatunga, who is the first candidate to openly declare his desire tocontest the cricket board elections, was typically outspoken after thefiling of the petition, claiming that the proposed amendment to the sportslaw was a ruse designed to keep him out of the cricket board.”When I heard about the policy, I felt that someone was trying to drag meout of sports, an area in which I have wanted to help,” he said, adding,”Indeed, that’s why I got into politics in the first place.”Ranatunga, famed for his arrogant air on the field, has lost none of hisself-belief, arguing that his leadership of the administration is now anurgent priority to prevent a fresh wave of corruption.”I want to stand for the Presidency and believe that I should do so as soonas possible, so that that we can avoid the corruption associated withbusinessmen running cricket,” he added.He believes that politicians are far better placed to run affairs of theadministration, comparing the good track record of the late Minister GaminiDissanayake in 1980s to the businessmen who have held office during therecent turbulent past.”When politicians were in charge of the cricket board they ran it well,” heclaimed. “Only during recent times, when businessman have been in charge,have we been forced to have these interim committees.”Ranatunga claims to have a strong backing of past cricketers and to havebeen encouraged to stand by current members of the national team. He is alsorumoured to being backed by former board President Upali Dharmadasa.But to win a cricket board election, Ranatunga would need the support of theclubs. Winning over their support will not be easy.The government are believed to favour Hemaka Amarasuriya – the respectedchairman of Singer Sri Lanka, who is being actively wooed for the post – buthave so far failed to garner the necessary support from all parties. Thehigh profile entry of Ranatunga makes the chances of brokering a consensuseven more remote.However, before Ranatunga can lock horns with his opponents, he must preventthe proposed amendments in the sports law being passed in Parliament.To do so, he is expected to site the numerous examples of cricketadministrators who have simultaneously held political office, both at homeand overseas, including current West Indies Cricket Board President Wes Halland English Cricket Board supreme Lord MacLaurin, who is a member of theHouse of Lords.