Sri Lanka Secures USD 11.5 Million ICC Funding: But What Is Sumathipala Doing With SLC Officials Attending ICC Board Meetings In Dubai?

President of Sri Lanka Cricket Shammi Silva said the SLC successfully secured US$ 11.5 Million (over Rs: 2 Billion ) of ICC funds. 

The ICC financial assistance to Sri Lanka was withheld by the global governing body until an elected body was established to overlook Sri Lanka Cricket. 

The ICC also relegated Sri Lanka, a full member of ICC since 1982, to the observatory status due to the absence of a legally elected cricket board in the country. 

Sri Lanka also regained its ICC full member status yesterday after the election of a new cricket administration. 

In an interesting development, however, new SLC President Shammi Silva's tweet about the ICC financial assistance to Sri Lanka made it clear that former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala was also travelling with the SLC officials attending ICC board meetings in Dubai.

Sumathipala was barred from running for SLC elections due to his involvement in the gambling business. However, the group elected at the recent SLC election are considered to be close allies of Sumathipala. 

It is not clear as to why Sumathipala flew to Dubai with SLC officials attending ICC board meetings.