The Court of Appeal today issued a stay order preventing the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) election from being held until June 14. The election was scheduled to be held tomorrow (May 31).

The petition submitted by former SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, who is also contesting for the Presidency this year, was taken up for hearing before President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Arjuna Obeysekara.

The attorney appearing on behalf of Ranatunga informed the court today (30) that the Elections Committee appointed to hold the SLC election was completely contrary to the law. 

The petitioner also accused that despite several objections being presented to the nomination submitted by incumbent SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, the elections committee had rejected those objections.

However, the attorney appearing on behalf of Mr Sumathipala said that arguments presented by the petitioner were baseless and that his client has every qualification to contest for the presidency of SLC.

He requested from the court to reject the requests made through the petition.  

However, the court decided that a hearing was required on the matter and therefore issued an order preventing the SLC election from being held tomorrow, in terms of the powers vested in the judiciary, despite the petition not seeking a stay on the election. 

On Monday (28), a petition was filed with the court seeking an injunction order preventing the incumbent President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Thilanga Sumathipala from contesting the election for the Presidency of the country’s cricket governing body. 

Twenty-seven persons including Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha, Secretary to the Ministry, members of the SLC elections committee and current SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala were named as respondents in the petition. 

The petitioner claims that the incumbent President Thilanga Sumathipala’s nomination for the Presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), to be elected on May 31, is contrary to the laws.

He states that if Mr Sumathipala contest for the position based on that nomination, it would violate provision in the Sports Act. 

Therefore the petitioner requested that an interim injunction be issued preventing the election from being held, until the hearing of the petition concludes and a final decision is given.