Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala said on Friday he will contest the next election of office-bearers scheduled for May 19 with nominations to close on April 27 while trumpeting that his organisation made a kill from a recently concluded international tournament in Colombo.
Sumathipala said a change in the Sports Law has enabled him to carry on for another two-year period if elected as the new law now stipulates that an elected sports official could serve for up to four years.
He has already finished two years.
“The Minister of Sports recently changed the Sports Law so that you can hold office for four years. We strongly believe that elections should be held once in two years and the Sports Law says you can stand for re-election after two years”, said Sumathipala.
He is likely to retain his loyal team comprising stalwarts Mohan de Silva and K Mathivanan as vice presidential candidates and Shammi Silva as treasurer. But he will need to find a new secretary candidate.
Sumathipala also boasted that SLC under his direction earned an income of Rs. 900 million from the recently concluded Nidahas Trophy tournament in Colombo although Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the final which India won beating Bangladesh.
The money came in mostly from television coverage rights.
“This is the first time that Sri Lanka Cricket has been involved with such a historical profit through the Nidahas Trophy. A profit of Rs.900 million has been reaped from the total revenue of Rs. 1.38 billion”, said an elated Sumathipala.
He revealed that 90 per cent of the money came in even before the first ball was bowled.