Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has paid a settlement of USD 164,000 (approximately Rs. 55 million) to former Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, bringing an end to a long-running legal dispute over the termination of his contract, according to the Sunday Times.
The newspaper reported that Hathurusinghe agreed to withdraw legal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland following the settlement.
According to the Sunday Times, Hathurusinghe had initially sought around USD 5 million in damages after his contract was terminated, but later filed fresh legal action seeking approximately USD 450,000 after the original CAS proceedings did not proceed as planned.
The report states that, under a settlement agreement reached earlier this year, Hathurusinghe agreed to accept USD 200,000, inclusive of 50 percent of his tax liability, with SLC paying USD 164,000 to conclude the case.
During Hathurusinghe’s tenure as head coach from December 2017, Sri Lanka won 24 of the 67 international matches played under his charge while losing 38, according to the Sunday Times. The report also noted that his tenure was marred by disciplinary concerns, with a one-man inquiry finding him guilty on six charges, including creating disharmony within the team and failing to adequately prepare players.
The Sunday Times further reported that the dispute attracted significant legal costs and had also been examined by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), which had recommended that both parties pursue an out-of-court settlement to avoid further legal expenses. (Newswire)