After the meeting convened by Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary NIshantha Ranatunga had told his close associates that he would not leave the SLC position.

It was widely reported in media that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered Ranatunga to step down from his position as the Secretary of the SLC. The President had reportedly asked Ranatunga to leave after a request made by SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa.

 However at the meeting at the Sports Ministry yesterday Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage instructed the top officials of SLC to work together and avoid internal clashes.

As a result, Ranatunga has now been able to circumvent the President’s order and retain his position as the Secretary of the SLC.   

Although all the parties agreed to work together, Asian Mirror learnt that differences among the top management of the SLC still exist.

“Sri Lanka Cricket administration”, a spokesperson said, “is now on top of a volcano”.

“The SLC President is still at loggerheads with the Secretary. The President accuses Ranatunga of overstepping his limits and disrupting the work of the Executive Committee. The top management has now been divided into two camps. This situation will certainly result in far-reaching issues,” the Spokesman added.

It is also learnt that the senior players of the national cricket team have serious differences of opinion with Nishantha Ranatunga.

Ranatunga is also the Chairman of Mihin Lanka in addition to his position as the SLC Secretary.