Sri Lanka Cricket washing sins with liquor
By Channaka de SilvaWhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government have a much publicised “Mathata Thitha” anti drugs and alcohol programme in full swing, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which is run by interim officials appointed by his Sports Minister is buying off some of the country’s sports journalists by entertaining them with alcohol and lavish food.
Copies of documents that are in possession of the “Daily Mirror” show that the SLC Media Manager Brian Thomas had submitted at least three petty cash vouchers claiming Rs. 11,466 during the past two weeks alone for entertaining journalists from selected media institutions.
Though entertaining journalists is not unheard of, the question remains why an institution like SLC needs to keep journalists entertained, especially with liquor.
The criteria in which SLC has picked journalists and media institutions also raise eye brows as a journalist who has been critical of SLC matters in recent TV talk shows has been named by Thomas in his petty cash vouchers to have been entertained.
World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga who headed the previous interim committee of the SLC, prohibited the use of liquor at all SLC functions but interestingly his younger brother Nishantha is the Secretary of the present SLC interim committee which succeeded his (Arjuna’s) committee.
Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said that he would call for an immediate inquiry on entertaining the journalists (which can also be seen as an indirect bribe) if someone makes a complaint to him officially with copies of the payment vouchers.
“You should keep in mind that it is also an insult to the journalistic profession if journalists have subscribed to this low level while savouring liquor on SLC account. Everyone will then brand these journalists as people who write for a bottle”, said the Minister.
According to the Vouchers submitted by Thomas, he has entertained the staffs of an English and Sinhala newspaper published by the same company on December 15 at a prominent cricket club.
Then on December 18, the Editor of the same English newspaper and the ADG of a radio station had been entertained at the same club.
Then on December 21, the staff of two Radio stations had been entertained.
Apart from choice liquor, the food served had included dishes such as Hot and Sour Vegetable/Prawns, Thai Steam Rice, Spiced Squid/Prawn/Sea Food Salad, Thai Red Thick Curry, Pan Fried Kankun and beef, Mustard Fish, Fried Prawns, Devilled Prawns, Fried Beef and Devilled Pork.
By Channaka de SilvaWhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government have a much publicised “Mathata Thitha” anti drugs and alcohol programme in full swing, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which is run by interim officials appointed by his Sports Minister is buying off some of the country’s sports journalists by entertaining them with alcohol and lavish food.
Copies of documents that are in possession of the “Daily Mirror” show that the SLC Media Manager Brian Thomas had submitted at least three petty cash vouchers claiming Rs. 11,466 during the past two weeks alone for entertaining journalists from selected media institutions.
Though entertaining journalists is not unheard of, the question remains why an institution like SLC needs to keep journalists entertained, especially with liquor.
The criteria in which SLC has picked journalists and media institutions also raise eye brows as a journalist who has been critical of SLC matters in recent TV talk shows has been named by Thomas in his petty cash vouchers to have been entertained.
World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga who headed the previous interim committee of the SLC, prohibited the use of liquor at all SLC functions but interestingly his younger brother Nishantha is the Secretary of the present SLC interim committee which succeeded his (Arjuna’s) committee.
Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said that he would call for an immediate inquiry on entertaining the journalists (which can also be seen as an indirect bribe) if someone makes a complaint to him officially with copies of the payment vouchers.
“You should keep in mind that it is also an insult to the journalistic profession if journalists have subscribed to this low level while savouring liquor on SLC account. Everyone will then brand these journalists as people who write for a bottle”, said the Minister.
According to the Vouchers submitted by Thomas, he has entertained the staffs of an English and Sinhala newspaper published by the same company on December 15 at a prominent cricket club.
Then on December 18, the Editor of the same English newspaper and the ADG of a radio station had been entertained at the same club.
Then on December 21, the staff of two Radio stations had been entertained.
Apart from choice liquor, the food served had included dishes such as Hot and Sour Vegetable/Prawns, Thai Steam Rice, Spiced Squid/Prawn/Sea Food Salad, Thai Red Thick Curry, Pan Fried Kankun and beef, Mustard Fish, Fried Prawns, Devilled Prawns, Fried Beef and Devilled Pork.
