DailyMirror:
The Supreme Court yesterday suggested to the relevant parties to look towards the holding of elections for the appointment of officials to Sri Lanka Cricket within two months in the interest of cricket and the country.
The Bench comprising Justices Shirani Tilakawardane, N.G.Amaratunga and R.K.Suresh Chandra made this suggestion when the fundamental rights petition filed by United Southern Cricket Club President M.S.Asoka Mendis came up before the Court for support.The Court also directed that the matter be taken up on July 6 to consider the position of settlement that would regularize matters relating to Sri Lanka Cricket.
The fundamental rights petition is seeking for the elections of office-bearers without permitting Sri Lanka Cricket to be continuously run by a purported ‘Interim Committee’.
The Supreme Court on October 11 last year granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights petition for the alleged infringement of the fundamental right to equality and equal protection of the law.
Petitioner M.S.Asoka Mendis who is the President of United Southern Cricket Club cited D.S.De Silva (Chairman), Nishantha Ranatunga(Secretary) Sujeeva Rajapaksha (Treasurer), Kalinga N. Indatissa, Prabhath Fonseka and Asanga Chandana Seneviratne all of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC).
SLC Acting CEO Ajith Jayasekera, SLC Head of Cricket Operations Ashley de Silva, Sports Minister C. B. Ratnayake and the Attorney General too were cited as Respondents.
Denzil Gunaratne PC with Viran Corea, Buddhika Jayasinghe and Sarita de Fonseka instructed by Udayanthi Seniviratne appeared for the petitioner. Seputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando appeared for the respondents.
The petitioner is seeking a declaration form the Court that the actions and/or inactions and/or conduct of the Respondents and/or the State have resulted in the infringement, continuous and imminent further infringement of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution to the Petitioner and/or members of the United Southern Cricket Club.