Cricket: Did Dharmadasa accept his own resignation?

It all points to a turbulent exit of vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket Jayantha Dharmadasa from his position, thus bringing an end to all speculation. 

It is reported that he is serious and has taken a firm decision this time and he will not return. 

A very senior SLC official stated “He has handed over his resignation and has not attended any of the executive committee meetings of late, so when it came to the Media conference of the Zimbabwe tour we did not extend an invitation”. 

SLC vice President Jayantha Dharmadasa’s absence on that particular day was very conspicuous. 

On four occasions prior to this Jayantha Dharmadasa had tendered his resignation from the post of SLC vice president, but, persons of authority had managed to talk him out of the situation. 

Finally he tendered his resignation taking up the onus of the Championship cricket debacle where the Lankans failed to reach the second round, while all three other Asian partners – Bangladesh, India and Pakistan entered the semi-finals along with hosts England. 

However it is said that he was not in line with SLC’s thinking on some of the issues. 

Initially Dharmadasa was against the removal of the SLC’s women’s team manager Vanessa de Silva from her position and the appointment Apsari Tillakaratne into the SLC women’s corp. 

Besides he has very disappointed when the SLC authorities failed to inform about the resignation of Head Coach Graham Ford who left in a huff. 

It is also reported that Ms de Silva now has been given employment by Dharmadasa in one his conglomerates. 

Meanwhile Dharmadasa’s long time ally K. Mathivanan who was reportedly invited by Dharmadasa to follow suit is trying his level best the SLC match fixing conundrum. 

There was a huge up roar towards the tail end of the local club cricket season when the premier ‘B’ division match between Kalutara Physical Culture Club and Panadura Sports Cub from January 23 to 25 was alleged to have been fixed. 

This was in order to bring Panadura Sports to get a promotion to ‘Tier A’. 

However SLC strongman Ravin Wickremaratne is a pivot at the Panadura SC. 

Since then the matter has been dragging, but, vice president Mathivanan has taken personal interest on the matter and has vowed to punish all culprits if they are found guilty of any offences. 

Mathivanan told “Yes, we know the matter has been dragging but, within the next three or four days we will be in a position to finalise the case. But, ironically I will be overseas from 4 to 14 July and I have given implicit instructions to keep the finding under wraps until my return. I don’t want anything to go wrong at this time of day. I want the truth to prevail whatever the final outcome is”. 

When asked from Mathivanan about Dharmadasa’s stance, he said “I am sure that he will be back by next week”.