Mahela relinquishes post of SSC Cricket Committee Chairman

Mahela Jayawardene

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene has relinquished his post as Cricket Committee Chairman of the SSC following his new appointment with Sri Lanka Cricket as Consultant Coach for national teams from 1 January. Jayawardene, however, will remain a member of the SSC Executive Committee.

Former SSC Cricket Committee Chairman Samantha Dodanwela has been asked to fill in the vacancy until the club’s next AGM in June.

“I served 10 years as chairman of the SSC Cricket Committee and Mahela took over from me in 2020. He did it for one-and-a-half years but what happened was with this new appointment as consultant coach for national teams he cannot hold positions in clubs. The Sri Lanka Cricket constitution says if you’re a paid employee, you cannot hold positions in clubs,” said Dodanwela.

“Mahela stepped down officially, and the President of SSC took a decision and wanted me to take over as Chairman of the Cricket Committee until the next AGM,” he added.

Dodanwela is also the Chairman of the SLC Tournament Committee, but that position doesn’t conflict with his position as it does not involve selections.

Jayawardene, as the Consultant Coach for all national teams, can always pick players although he is not involved in selections. He is due to leave for the West Indies on 9 January to join the Sri Lanka U-19 team that will participate in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup.

Jayawardene is also the country’s National Sports Council Chairman, a position which has been viewed by sports authorities as a violation of the country’s sports Law. – (ST)