Sports Minister urges court to dismiss Shammi’s writ petition

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - The Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe through his lawyer today made an application before Court of Appeal requesting to dismiss the writ petition filed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva alleging that he has obtained an interim relief after suppressing the material facts.

President's Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appearing for the Sports Minister told court that the SLC President alone cannot institute legal action without the approval of SLC executive committee.

Egalahewa submitted to court that the Minister was compelled to appoint an interim committee taking into account the corruption, misconduct and irregularities within SLC revealed by the Auditor General’s report. He moved court to dismiss the petition at the outset and observed that an interim order should not be issued regarding this petition.  

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and D.N. Samarakoon fixed the petition for further hearing for tomorrow (23). 

On November 7, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order suspending the operation of the gazette notification issued by Sports Minister appointing an interim committee to the Sri Lanka Cricket, until November 16.

The Petitioner states that the Sports Minister has been antagonistic towards SLC from the time he assumed office as Minister and at all stages for the primary reason that the present office bearers of SLC are independent and acted only in the interests of Sri Lanka Cricket and withstood political interference.

President's Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for the SLC President. President's Counsel Uditha Egalahewa instructed by Senior Counsel G. G. Arulpragasam appeared for the Sports Minister. President's Counsel Saliya Pieris appeared for SLC interim committee Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga. Additional Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilleke appeared for the Sports Ministry Secretary.