Minister gives undertaking not to take action on interim committee until Wednesday

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe through his lawyer yesterday gave an undertaking before the Court of Appeal, not to take any further action regarding the gazette notification issued by the Minister appointing an interim committee to the Sri Lanka Cricket, until November 22. 

  President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa appearing for the Sports Minister gave this undertaking when the writ petition filed by SLC President Shammi Silva was taken up for support before the Court of Appeal.   

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and D.N. Samarakoon also decided not to extend its previous interim order and fixed the petition for further hearing on November 22. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for the SLC President Shammi Silva commenced his oral submissions and his further submissions to be resumed next hearing date.   

On November 7, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order suspending the operation of the gazette notification issued by the 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 the members of the SLC interim committee. Additional Solicitor General Milinda Gunatilleke appeared for the Sports Ministry Secretary.