Sri Lanka set for fresh cricket board elections

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) will hold elections after a government decision to end a two-year period of control by interim committees.

The sports ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the BCCSL Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place in approximately one month - probably on June 6.

Lakshman Kiriella, the then sports minister, disbanded the last elected administration in March, 2001 on legal grounds, amid rumours off financial mismanagement.

A series of interim committees followed, the first headed by Vijaya Malalsekera and the last by Hemaka Amarasuriya, who was appointed by the current sports minister Johnston Fernando.

Leading contenders for the presidency include Thilanga Sumithipala, who had served two previous terms as president, and Arjuna Ranatunga, the former captain.

Once the sports ministry has issued formal notification to the BCCSL membership, contenders have two weeks to forward their nominations.

Milton Amarasinghe, the director of sports, will conduct and oversee the election, trying to avoid a repeat of the controversial 1999 AGM -­ an election marred by physical intimidation.