Harin urges Court to recognize him as Sports Minister in cricket case

• The new Sports Minister through his lawyer yesterday gave an undertaking, not to take any further action regarding the gazette notification issued by the former Minister

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Newly appointed Sports Minister Harin Fernando yesterday moved the Court of Appeal that he be recognised as the Sports Minister in connection with the writ petition filed over the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee.   

Attorney-at-law Dinesh Vidanapathirana appearing on behalf of Minister Harin Fernando moved Court that his client be added as the new Minister of Sports following the removal of Roshan Ranasinghe from ministerial responsibilities.

 Vidanapathirana told Court that the new Sports Minister would look into the matters relating to this issue after getting proper instructions. He moved court that this case be called again next week to inform his client’s stance regarding the petition.   
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for SLC President Shammi Silva moved court to substitute the new Sports Minister to the petition since Roshan Ranasinghe no longer functions as the Sports Minister. 

 
President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appearing for former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe told court that he still appears on behalf of Roshan Ranasinghe since his proxy is still valid before court.   

President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris appearing for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga sought a ruling regarding the preliminary objections raised challenging the maintainability of the petition.   

Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe appearing for the Sports Ministry Secretary informed court that his client would continue to maintain the position that he had taken regarding the petition.   

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and D.N. Samarakoon fixed the petition for December 5.   
Meanwhile, the new Sports Minister through his lawyer yesterday gave an undertaking, not to take any further action regarding the gazette notification issued by the former Minister appointing an interim committee to the SLC, until December 5.   

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 Sri Lanka Cricket until November 16.   

The Petitioner SLC President Shammi Silva stated 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.     

•  Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and D.N. Samarakoon fixed the petition for December 5