Former cricket board president, Thilanga Sumathipala, has demanded 500million rupees (USD $ 5 million) damages from Sri Lanka’s Deputy SportsMinister, Mangala Samaraweera, after allegations made in a televisioninterview he helped topple the Sri
CricInfo16-Oct-2001Former cricket board president, Thilanga Sumathipala, has demanded 500million rupees (USD $ 5 million) damages from Sri Lanka’s Deputy SportsMinister, Mangala Samaraweera, after allegations made in a televisioninterview he helped topple the Sri Lankan government last week.According to Sumathipala, in a media statement released on Monday, “In arecent television interview had made serious false, misleading, maliciousstatements and even went to the extent to connect me with the LTTE through aTamil politician for the recent political crisis.”The ruling PA government, headed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike, wereforced to call fresh parliamentary elections on Wednesday night after thedefection of several high ranking MPs in the days running up to a crucial noconfidence vote.With the election expected to take place on 5 December the UNP oppositionlooks set for a return to power, opening up the possibility of a change inthe administration and thus the Sports Minister.Such changes would pave the way for fresh cricket board elections and thepossible return of a Sumathipala led administration, which had beendissolved in March by the then Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella.Rumours ran rife in Colombo over the weekend that Sumathipala, renowned forhis canny politicking, had turned kingmaker and played a major hand in thepolitical defections.According to Sumathipala, Samaraweera claimed in the programme, broadcast onITN on Sunday night, that he (Sumathipala) had paid Rs 30 million to everymember that crossed the floor.He adamantly denies this, saying, “I must clearly state that I didn’t playany part in the recent political developments in the country and had nothingto do with any financial transaction whatsoever.”But admitted that: “Personally, I am very happy to see that some intelligentpeople have crossed over to the correct side at this moment in time.”Sumathipala has started legal proceedings by issuing a letter of demand foran astonishing 500 million Rupees. Should this not be answered within sevendays he claims further legal action will be taken.He then challenged Samaraweera to an open, televised face-to-face forum to”give us an opportunity to clear our name.”Rumours are also rife that Sumathipala is about to formally enter nationalpolitics and contest in the forthcoming elections. He, though, maintainsthat he is “interested in administration, not politics.”