The Commercial High Court of the Western Province today dismissed an application by WSG Nimbus Pte Ltd, seeking to set aside the order made by the court earlier in favour of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka. The enjoining order restrains WSG Nimbus from interfering with the right of the BCCSL to negotiate with other international broadcasters following the cessation of the master rights agreement between the BCCSL and WSG Nimbus.

WSG Nimbus, through its lawyers, objected to the court hearing this matter on the grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to hear this matter. WSG Nimbus took up the position that the parties had consented to arbitration in Singapore. The BCCSL contended that as the agreement had ceased to exist, there was no question of the arbitration clause being in force, and in any event it was a discretion vested with parties either to go to arbitration or institute action in courts.

After the application by WSG Nimbus was dismissed by Judge L.K. Wimalachandra, WSG Nimbus withdrew from the case. The BCCSL then obtained an interim injunction further preventing WSG Nimbus from interfering with the right of the BCCSL to negotiate with other international broadcasters. Court fixed the case for ex parte trial on the 21st of November.

Romesh De Silva, PC, with Dinal Phillips, Hiran De Alwis, Keshan Thalgahagoda, Ranil Prematilleke, and Nishantha Sirimanne, instructed by Ged Goonaratne of Julius & Creasy, appeared for the BCCSL.

Following the cessation of the agreement with WSG Nimbus, the BCCSL called for bids from interested parties, and signed a memorandum of understanding last Friday with Taj Television Ltd of Sharjah, with regard to television and radio rights outside Sri Lanka, title sponsorships and forty ground runners at matches.

© BCCSL