The crisis in the country’s cricket was also felt at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting (Aug 29th) with an argument breaking out between Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and former World Cup-winning ‘Captain Cool’ Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga.

The latter however has been a vocal critic of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board led by Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala.

The verbal exchange between the two ministers forced President Maithripala Sirisena to intervene in the matter.

The argument broke out when Ranatunga found fault with the Sports Minister after the latter presented a Cabinet Paper to renovate the artificial track of the Sugathadasa Stadium.

This prompted Ranatunga to point out the shortcomings in the Cabinet paper presented by Jayasekara. Annoyed by Ranatunga’s comment, Jayasekara, who has been on the receiving end of criticism for his refusal to remove Cricket Board Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala, accused the Petroleum Minister of meddling in the affairs of others.

“The Sports Minister claimed that he was being accused of having dealings with betting centre owners, accusing Minister Ranatunga of playing cricket in the Port Ministry and Petroleum Ministry,” one source told Daily FT.

Jayasekara’s response resulted in Ranatunga pledging to always stand up for cricket no matter which portfolio he held.

In frustration, the Sports Minister offered to swap portfolios with Ranatunga, an offer which he turned down. Instead Ranatunga offered to take over the Sports Ministry in addition to his current ministry, adding that he had a right to make such a demand.

The verbal battle finally ended with a promise from the President to discuss the matter at a later date.

Ranatunga on Monday said fans should hoot at the administrators and not the cricketers, a reference to an incident which occurred during the third ODI against India in Pallakele when bottles were thrown onto the field. The two remaining ODIs will be played in Colombo.

Courtesy:Daily FT