Thilanga Sumathipala

Uduwatuwage Janath Priya Thilanga Sumathipala MP (born 3 May 1964) (known as Thilanga Sumathipala) is a Sri Lankan politician who was the former deputy speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 2015 and former President of Sri Lanka Cricket. (2016–2019)[1]

Hon.

Thilanga Sumathipala

MP
තිලංග සුමතිපාල
திலங்க சுமதிபால
Deputy speaker and chairman of committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
In office
1 September 2015 – 12 April 2018
PresidentMaithripala Sirisena
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byChandima Weerakkody
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for National List
In office
2015–2020
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for Colombo District
In office
2010–2015
Personal details
Born (1964-05-03) 3 May 1964
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySri Lanka Freedom Party
Residence59 Ananda Rajakaruna Mw,
Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
Alma materNalanda College Colombo
OccupationPolitics
ProfessionBusinessman
Websitethilanga.lk

Previously he served as deputy minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training.[2] He is a member of parliament representing the Colombo District. He served as a member of the Western Provincial Council and was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party chief organiser for the Borella Electorate in Colombo District. He is also the chairman of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Development Coordination Committee and the managing director of one of the largest private corporate groups of companies in Sri Lanka. He is one of leading business magnates in Sri Lanka.

Early life and education

Thilanga Sumathipala was born on 3 May 1964 in Colombo. He received his education at Nalanda College Colombo and London College of Communication, UK. While at school Thilanga excelled in cricket and was the vice captain of the Nalanda College first XI team in 1982.[3]

Career

Sumathipala chaired two telecommunication companies namely Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd from 2002 to 2004. He was the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka in 1997–1998, 2000–2001 and 2003–2004. Between 1998 and 2000 he was the director of the International Cricket Council and the president of the Asian Cricket Council in 1997–1998. He was also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Committee in 2000–2001.[4]

Imprisonment

Sumathipala was given a rigorous imprisonment for 2 years in 2007 for aiding and abetting Dammika Perera-a criminal implicated in 28 murders- to obtain a forged passport under the fake name of Buddhika Priyashantha Godage.[5] Sumathipala, the chairman of the Board of Cricket of that time has co-signed a letter with another officer to arrange 1500 Sterling Pounds to release to Buddhika Priyashantha Godage under which name the underworld criminal Dammika Perera went to England.[6]Later he was acquitted on an appeal.

Sumathipala while preceding the chair of the SLBCC was also the managing director of Sumathi Newspapers and has confirmed that he was the owner of a Book Making Business producing an affidavit to the British Courts.[7] "I am a bookmaker. That is my job. So I cannot get mathematics wrong," Sumathipala said in a tape-recorded interview.[8]

Later, Sumathipala declared that he divested these interests in gaming and that the business is run by the members of his family now. However, the ICC Code of Ethics further states that even family involvement in gambling disqualifies the person.[9]

References
  1. "Shammi Silva elected president of Sri Lanka Cricket". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. Thilanga Sumathipala assumes duties as deputy minister
  3. 54th Battle of the Maroons – Nalanda Team
  4. ICC Code of Ethics.Section 7(d)
  5. Sri Lanka's former Kingmaker, Cricket board boss, Telecom chairman Thilanga Sumathipala convicted for a 2-year jail term after a long drawn out case. Jayawardhana Walter. Lanka Web News. Available online
  6. A man on borrowed time. The Sunday Leader, 09 Nov., 2003. Vol 10. Issue 17
  7. Sri Lanka Cricket heading in the right direction.Faraz shauketaly.Available online.
  8. Sri Lanka Board in gambling Claims | BBC News.
  9. "ICC Code of Ethics.Section 7(d)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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