Trevor Rajaratnam, the former treasurer of the dissolved Sri Lankan cricket board, has defended Thilanga Sumathipala, the former President, in a letter addressed to the Daily News Editor after allegations that Sumathipala received financial compensation from the board for the payment of personal legal fees.

In the past few days the Sri Lankan press has published copies of an Rs3,198,061 (US $ 35,000) cricket board cheque, which was paid to Sumithipala on 1st March 2001 for the `reimbursement of legal fees.'

According to the Sunday Times, who had contacted the Laksmann Kiriella, the Sports Minister, the payment was to form part of an imminent investigation into financial malpractice in cricket board.

The investigation will also probe the hurried preparation of 50 cheques, with a total value of Rs 42 million (US $ 500,000), on the eve of the cricket board's dissolution by the Sports Minister. The majority of the cheques were paid to contractors involved in the construction of the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Critics argue that the reimbursed legal fees pertain to personal cases filed against Sumithapala - by Clifford Ratwatte, who contested the board presidency two years ago, and Rienzie Wijetilleke, who headed the last Interim Committee - and that the board should not have had to foot the bill.

Rajaratnam responded to these allegations by drawing attention to clause 34 of the BCCSL constitution, which states: "Every office-bearer of the Board shall be indemnified out of the funds of the board against all losses and expenses incurred in the lawful discharge of his duties."

He goes on to state that: "According to the clause the Executive Committee meeting held on the 5th February 2001 unanimously resolved to reimburse the following sums of money paid as legal expenses by Thilanga Sumithapala from his personal funds on account of court cases against Sumithapala and his Executive Committee."

"The impression given to the public is that this is an irregular payment hurriedly made due to the dissolution of the board," he said. "This is totally erroneous. The cheque was issued 28 days before the dissolution of the board. It is therefore obvious that there was no irregularity or indecent hurry to make this payment."

The Sri Lankan cricket board was dissolved on the 28th March by the Sports Minister for violating Section 29 of the Sports Law by not properly notifying the board membership of the Annual General Meeting scheduled for the 31st March and by failing to circulate annual accounts before the stipulated 30-day deadline.

A six-man Interim Committee was then appointed by the Minister to run the affairs of the cricket board for the indefinite future. The board is headed by Vijaya Malasekera, a close friend of Chandrika Kumaratunge, the Sri Lankan President, and comprises three former national cricketers: Asantha de Mel, Sidath Wettimuny and Michael Tissera.

Members of the now defunct Executive Committee are challenging the Sports Ministers decision in the courts. They claim that the constitution of the BCCSL was adhered to, that the annual accounts were circulated, and that the dissolution was therefore unlawful. The case is to be heard on the 4th May.

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