Presidential candidate in fisticuffs with opponent…

Aruna de Silva who has submitted his nomination for the tournament committee of Sri Lanka Cricket at the forthcoming elections has lodged a complaint with Cinnamon Gardens police that Nishantha Ranatunga who is contesting for the post of SLC President has threatened to kill him.

The incident took place at the Sports Ministry yesterday when the inquiry into the eligibility of 17 sports clubs on their voting rights was taken up.

Aruna de Silva who is functioning as a Colombo District cricket secretary had made a complaint to the Sports Ministry regarding 11 sports clubs and when he went to the Ministry to inquire about it, an argument had taken place between Nishantha Ranatunga and Sujeewa Godaliyadda regarding an attempt to influence Negombo Youth CC secretary Eustace Fernando.

The ensuing argument had led to fisticuffs being exchanged between the two.

“When I tried to intervene Nishantha Ranatunga scolded me and threatened to kill me,” said De Silva.

“Eustace Fernando never complained against me that I harassed him which clearly shows that this is being done to tarnish my image,” said Nishantha Ranatunga regarding the complaint to the Cinnamon Gardens police.

Ranatunga said that for some time there has been a campaign to tarnish the image of Arjuna Ranatunga and him by certain people and he vehemently denied the allegation made by Aruna de Silva.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court yesterday granted permission to K. Mathivanan and Asanga Seneviratne to contest for the posts of Vice President of SLC on an application made by K. Mathivanan.

The Colombo District Court also issued an order yesterday on Asitha Gamlath, M.B. Ranjan and Wijesekera Walisundera preventing them from representing North Central Province Cricket Association at the SLC elections scheduled for January 3, 2016.