Mahanama plea dismissed by Court
The Colombo District Court lifted the injunction order suspending the semi-final and final of the Inter-School Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Cricket Tournament after dismissing the petition filed by the Deputy Principal of Mahanama College, Colombo. The office bearers of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), including its Acting President Thilak Wattuhewa, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as Trinity College—who played against Mahanama in the controversial quarter-final match—were respondents in the case.
Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana, on Friday, vacated the enjoining order obtained on February 11 by the Deputy Principal of Mahanama College, which had prevented the semi-final of the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ Tournament between Trinity College and Royal College from taking place.
The quarter-final match between Mahanama and Trinity was scheduled to be played at the Royal Central College ground in Polonnaruwa from February 5 to 7 but came to a complete halt after the first day’s play. Batting first, Mahanama was skittled out for 74 in 35.4 overs, while Trinity responded with 141 for 5 after 50 overs. Trinity had already secured first-innings points and was eligible to enter the semi-final. However, the Mahanama team refused to continue the match, even after both Trinity’s overnight batsmen had arrived at the crease. As a result, the SLSCA awarded the match to Trinity, who had technically gained first-innings points.
On Friday, the SLSCA submitted applications to the Court, arguing that the action was based on a wrongful legal and factual basis, as the petitioner had no standing to maintain this case on behalf of Mahanama College. They further contended that the petitioner’s actions had caused grave loss and damage to the SLSCA, school cricketers, and disciplinary procedures.
In its petition, the SLSCA also stated that the tournament final had to be rescheduled ahead of the upcoming G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations and that several schools were set to play their traditional big matches. Attorneys representing Trinity College further informed the Court that they had been wrongly made a party to the action by the petitioner.