Rienzie Wijetilleke – 11 months that changed course of cricket administration

Saturday, 5 July 2025 00:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Rienzie Wijetilleke as Interim Committee Chairman in a thoughtful mood with England and Wales Cricket Board CEO Tim Lamb, at a lunch hosted at Steuart House by Secretary S. Skandakumar

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration was in chaos when President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga appointed Rienzie Wijetilleke who passed away yesterday at the age of 85, as chairman of the first interim committee to administer Sri Lanka Cricket in June 1999.

The country had been embarrassed by the violence that took place during the March 1999 SLC elections where gun-toting intruders had prevented officials from casting their vote. The incident so embarrassed the country that President Kumaratunga had no alternative but to immediately dissolve the cricket board and appoint an interim committee.

The inaugural interim committee headed by Wijetilleke comprised S. Skandakumar (Vice Chairman and Secretary), Michael Tissera, Sidath Wettimuny and Ashantha de Mel. Kushil Gunasekara was co-opted later as Secretary.

The Wijetilleke committee brought in accountability as its highest priority, a new vision and new future.

The 11 fabulous months the interim committee ran saw:

nThe return of Dav Whatmore as head coach of the national team

nA new era for Sri Lanka cricket ushered in following the 1999 World Cup debacle with the appointment of a new selection committee under Sidath Wettimuny

nAppointment of a new Captain Sanath Jayasuriya with several new players brought in

nFor starters the new-look team won the Aiwa Cup triangular one-day tournament that comprised Australia and India

nWon a 3-Test series (1-0) against Australia for the first time

nWon away Test series in Zimbabwe (1-0) and in Pakistan (2-1)

nWon away ODI series in Zimbabwe (3-1) and in Pakistan (3-0)

Skandakumar in his tribute to Wijetilleke said, “He was a strict disciplinarian with outstanding administrative skills. Although he was not a cricketer he had a remarkable grasp of the game, respected the views of his cricketing colleagues, and supported meaningful changes that laid a strong foundation for the development of the game in the new millennium. High among them was Accountability. It was a privilege to have served on that committee of cricketing gentlemen under his exemplary leadership.”

Sanath Jayasuriya, the current Head Coach of the national team who was Captain when Wijetilleke was Interim Committee Chairman said, “He was a thorough gentleman and looked after us all very well. Not only Sri Lanka Cricket, but even at his bank at HNB (Hatton National Bank) where he employed a lot of cricketers. Those cricketers went on to play for Sri Lanka. He gave a lot of player’s opportunities at HNB. It was a great service to the game. Cricket was semi-professional at that time. All cricketers respect his contribution to the game. He was a towering strength for the team as Head of SLC.” (ST)

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