Hashan begins new innings

Umpires and Scorers Association election

Hashan begins new innings

• Minister Dilan Perera withdraws nomination at eleventh hour

By Champika Fernando

Former cricket skipper Hashan Tillakaratne was elected uncontested as president of the Sri Lanka Umpires and Scorers Association when rival candidate Minister of Justice Dilan Perera withdrew his nomination at the eleventh hour saying he did not want to contest.
When contacted Minister Perera refused to shed any light as to why he withdrew his nomination but sources said that the minister decided to refrain from contesting as the nomination of the former cricketer was said to be unconstitutional.
“He didn’t want to contest a man whose nomination was unconstitutional,” said Saman Amarasinghe, the man behind Minister Perera’s candidature.
“When the committee approved Hashan’s candidature with the majority vote after nearly half an hour debate, minister withdrew his nomination,” Amarasinghe, the former Chairman of National Sports Council, said.
However, after a debate the committee has accepted Hashan’s nomination, shutting the door on Justice Minister.
The election began to hot up like never before as two candidates from two rival parties, UNP and UPFA had entered the fray in its 63 year-old history.
Hashan, the UNP organizer for Avissawella, in a pre election press conference said that his intention was to sort out the problems faced by the umpires in the country.
“I have had the services of umpires during my career. I am duty bound to help them. There are a lot of problems faced by the umpires. I came forward to help them,” Thilakaratne last week said.
Minister Perera is the president of the Volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka.
Two hundred and thirty-two members out of over 500 members who had paid their memberships fees were eligible for voting yesterday.
Left handed batsman Tillakaratne was a member of the Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team in 1996.
In addition he led Sri Lanka in 10 Test matches. On his retirement he was appointed executive director of Cricket-Aid, a body formed to provide relief following the December 2004 tsunami.

--- Lakbimanews _--