Complaint filed over alleged umpire exam paper leak

Umpire Chandana Kannangara stresses a point     

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

A complaint has been lodged with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) alleging that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Umpires’ Committee leaked papers from last year’s umpires’ examination  

Chandana Kannangara, a Grade-Four Umpire from SLC, told the media outside the SLHRC after complaining that SLC conducted an examination last year to upgrade Grade-Four umpires to Grade Three, with over 100 candidates participating.  

Kannangara alleged that two individuals, a former Test cricket umpire and a member of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires’ Committee, leaked a paper containing 60 questions a week before the examination to several umpires. He claimed that 25 questions from the leaked paper were included in the official exam.  

“The duo leaked the paper. Twenty-five umpires were promoted following the exam. However, there are more than 30 applicants who scored over 98 marks, yet some failed to qualify. SLC should select qualified umpires through proper procedures. We have decided to complain about this injustice with various institutions,” he said.  

He said that the examination held on April 23 last year, faced an eight-month delay in releasing results until February 4.  

Kannangara claimed that the board was aware of the leaked paper among at least 25 applicants but failed to take action.  

He highlighted that this was not the first instance of a leaked paper but noted that previously only a few individuals had access to it. However, this time, at least 25 applicants received the paper before the exam.  

Kannangara claimed that it was nearly impossible for anyone even Kumar Dharmasena to score 98 marks on the paper without prior access.