News

Sports Council headed by Arjuna proposes to cancel LPL

Published

1 year ago

November 11, 2022

editor

The National Sports Council headed by former cricket skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has submitted a proposal to cancel the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 cricket tournament scheduled to commence on December 6 and the T10 cricket tournament proposed to be held in the future.

The National Sports Council has submitted these proposals yesterday (10) and it is said that they have also requested to appoint an Interim Committee to govern Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe told the media that a final decision will be reached about these proposals following a discussion to be held with the Sports Council members today (11).

“There have been proposals from the National Sports Council to cancel the LPL and the T10 tournament. With the crisis situation that has arisen, we hope to reach a final decision after discussing these matters with the Sports Council and the Selection Committee,” he said.

Interim Committee to rob USDs!

Meanwhile, SLC sources said that all the preparations have been made to go ahead with the LPL.

It is reported that if the tournament is abandoned, there will be a loss of 2 million USDs.

An executive officer of SLC has told Aruna newspaper that foreigners who intend to come to Sri Lanka for LPL may not come.

“If they are trying to take such decisions based on the Dhanushka Gunathilaka incident, what is the relationship between that and the cancellation of the tournament? Sri Lanka Cricket currently has a reserve of 40 million US Dollars. Someone is trying to set up an Interim Committee to rob money. We have informed the ICC about this. If there is an interim committee for SLC, Sri Lanka cricket will definitely be banned internationally,” he said.

Throughout the past, Mr. Ranatunga was seen trying to take over the power of Sri Lanka Cricket every time he got involved in politics.

News

Prof. Nalin de Silva no more

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

Philosopher, intellectual and academician Professor Nalin de Silva has passed away at the age of 79. Prof. de Silva initially served as a professor in the Department of Mathematics and later as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya.

He was also a former member of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

In addition to his academic pursuits, de Silva also worked as a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar.

News

‘Company issuing visa at BIA not Indian or Indian based’

Published

7 hours ago

May 2, 2024

editor

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has issued a statement over reports of Indian companies taking over visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

The statement notes “companies referred to in these reports are not India based or Indian and are headquartered elsewhere. Any reference to India in this context is unwarranted.”

News

Chaos at BIA raises questions (Video)

Published

8 hours ago

May 2, 2024

nipuni

Questions have been raised after chaos at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake last night (May 01) has sparked widespread outrage.

This is with regard to a controversial takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process at BIA by an Indian company – VFS Global since yesterday evening.

It is learnt that the company has levied an extra $25 alongside the standard $75 fee.

Long lines of frustrated travellers were also seen at the airport for several hours, which is a stark difference to the procedure smoothly managed in a matter of mere minutes by the Immigration and Emigration Department in the past.

Footage of a Sri Lankan citizen expressing outrage over Indian nationals deciding visa matters for fellow Sri Lankans, has also been making rounds on social media.

Although 10 Sri Lankan and Indian officers had commenced work from 5.00pm yesterday, the lines remained well over 9.00pm. Amid tensions, higher officials of the BIA and security forces had also arrived at the premises.

At 11.30pm the company officials temporarily suspended issuing visas and left the BIA with the money collected, reports say.

Upon the directive of the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Ilukpitiya, Immigration officers have commenced their usual duties with no issues since then, enabling the previous process to continue smoothly.

Concerns have been raised over the lack of transparency in this arrangement.