Tilanga Sumathipala says politics no bar to SLC presidency

Tilanga Sumathipala, a presidential aspirant in the upcoming polls of Sri Lanka Cricket, has insisted that his political career cannot come in the way of heading the SLC even though it goes against ICC guidelines.

Sumathipala, a parliamentarian in the ruling coalition of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, if elected, would be in contravention of the ICC policy of having cricket

administrations devoid of politics.

The ICC had laid strict guidelines for countries which resorted to the practise of running the game under politically appointed interim committees.

"There will not be any problems with the ICC. I have served in the ICC board of directors in the past and have also served in its executive committee," said Sumathipala.

"This will be my 18th year in cricket administration during which I put in a lot of hard work into running the game," he said.

Similarly he dismissed suggestions that his family connections to a bookie, a newspaper publishing house and a sports equipment store would impede his chances.

The SLC sources said that Sumathipala who had entered the fray after getting the nod from President Mahinda Rajapaksa and first son Namal Rajapaksa would be a formidable candidate.

In fact, he could be elected uncontested.

The nominations will be closed tomorrow for the March 30 election.

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