Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Hesha Withanage and Dilip Wedaarachchi have called on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Tangalle. 

According to reports, the meeting had taken place at the Carlton residence in Tangalle, where Mahinda Rajapaksa now resides.

It is reported that MPs Hesha Withanage and Dilip Wedaarachchi had visited the former President to inquire about his well-being.

Hesha Withanage previously served as the Chairman of the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha, representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, while SJB MP Dilip Wedaarachchi represents the Hambantota District in Parliament. (Newswire)

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MP Hesha Withanage has been elected as the Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital.

He was elected at the committee’s inaugural meeting held in Parliament on Thursday (June 6).

His nomination was proposed by MP V.S. Radhakrishnan and seconded by MP Chanaka Madugoda.

Several members of Parliament and parliamentary officials attended the meeting. (Newswire)

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MP Hesha Withanage has backed his allegations against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by presenting an Executive Committee meeting minute in Parliament, where he claimed that payments to suspended Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon were approved.

According to the document, the SLC Executive Committee had appointed Tennakoon, then Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, as an Advisor to the Security Consultant of Sri Lanka Cricket.

The contract, effective from August 16, 2021, included a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000, 200 liters of fuel per month, a Rs. 5,000 mobile allowance, a laptop, a mobile phone, and medical insurance, MP Withanage told Parliament.

MP Withanage tabled the document in Parliament in response to SLC’s recent denial of his claims. The cricket board had previously dismissed allegations that Tennakoon was paid or provided with perks, calling them baseless and false.

MP Withanage criticized the government, stating it had no intention of preventing the accused group from contesting the upcoming SLC election on March 31. He also accused the current sports minister of supporting a corrupt faction within SLC and announced plans to take legal action over the matter.

“This denial by SLC is irrelevant,” Withanage said. “We have a copy of the report approved by the Executive Committee.”

SLC, in its earlier statement, maintained that it only engages with security personnel as part of its commitment to ensuring safety during international cricket events and refuted any payments or appointments involving Tennakoon. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in a statement says the Colombo District Court has issued an injunction order against opposition MP Hesha Withanage over recent allegations made against SLC officials.

According to the SLC, legal action was initiated against the MP over allegations made with regard to the SLC in connection to the Men’s T20 cricket World Cup in Australia last year. 

The SLC stated that allegations had been made based on a draft report by the Auditor General’s Department which was handed over to the Sports Minister, and was made public via the media.

Based on the report, a group including MP Hesha Withanage had made false allegations against SLC officials accusing them of malpractices during the 2022 Men’s T20 cricket World Cup, the SLC alleged. 

The SLC revealed that the Colombo District Court has issued an injunction order prohibiting MP Hesha Withanage from making comments against the SLC and its officials based on the draft report by the Auditor General’s Department. (NewsWire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Hesha Withanage has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) seeking an investigation into the alleged corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Speaking to reporters outside the CID office today, SJB MP Hesha Withanage accused members of the SLC Executive Committee of misusing the board’s money for personal use.

Pointing out facts from a recent audit report, the MP stated that it was obvious that the SLC is currently operating for the members to benefit and has no intention of developing or taking forward the sport of cricket in the future.

MP Withanage stated that through the complaint filed at the CID, the SJB looks to create an environment in which the players can perform with freedom.

According to The Island, meanwhile, addressing a media briefing in Colombo on Sunday, the SJB MP alleged that the Executive Committee members of the SLC used Rs. 67 million to purchase air tickets and as allowances during the last year’s ICC T-20 World Cup held in Australia. (NewsWire)

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