Kumaratunga behind cricket board violence: security chief

Putting Chandrika Kumaratunga in an embarrassing situation, her former Security Chief has told police he was present along with armed security men at a meeting of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board in 1999 which was marred by violence, at the Presidents’ instruction.

The controversial Superintendent of Police Nihal Karunaratne, under investigation for alleged offences committed during his tenure as Director of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) told CID investigators yesterday that he and other PSD men had entered the board headquarters on Kumaratunga’s direction, Sri Lankan state-run Daily News reported today.

The election held on March 28, 1999, involved a contest between Kumaratunga’s uncle, Clifford Ratwatte, and Thilanga Sumathipala, who later became President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).

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PSD personnel have been charged with threatening BCCSL officials and responsible for the unruly incidents that led to the election being abrogated and the Board brought under an interim administrative committee by the government.

Karunaratne, arrested last month and later granted bail, is facing charges related to alleged acts of violence and intimidation during the last general elections.