Thilanga Sumathipala
| The Honourable Thilanga Sumathipala MP | |
|---|---|
|
තිලංග සුමතිපාල திலங்க சுமதிபால | |
| Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka | |
|
Assumed office 1 September 2015 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Prime Minister | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Preceded by | Chandima Weerakkody |
| Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for National List | |
|
Assumed office 2015 | |
| Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament for Colombo District | |
|
In office 2010–2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 3, 1964 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
| Spouse(s) | Samadara Sumathipala |
| Children | Udhantha, Dulantha, Sajantha |
| Residence |
59, Ananda Rajakaruna Mw, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. |
| Alma mater | Nalanda College Colombo |
| Occupation | Politics |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| Website | Official website |
Uduwatuwage Janath Priya Thilanga Sumathipala MP (born 3 May 1964) (known as Thilanga Sumathipala) is a Sri Lankan politician who is currently the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 2015. He is also the current President of Sri Lanka Cricket, who was appointed in January 2016.[1]
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 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 1998–2000 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.
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 forge passport under the fake name of Buddhika Priyashantha Godage.[4]Sumathipala, the chairman of the Board of Cricket of that time co-signed a letter with another officer to arrange 1,500 Sterling Pounds to release to Buddhika Priyashantha Godage under which name the underworld criminal Dammika Perera went to England.[5] Later he was acquitted on an appeal.
Sumathipala while precceding the chair of the SLBCC was also the managing director of Sumathi Newspapers and confirmed that he was the owner of a bookmaking business producing an affidavit to the British Courts.[6]"I am a bookmaker. That is my job. So I cannot get mathematics wrong," Sumathipala said in a tape-recorded interview.[7]
Later, Sumathipala declared that he had divested these interests in gaming and that the business was now run by the members of his family. The ICC Code of Ethics however states that even family involvement in gambling disqualify the person.[8]
References
- ↑ http://www.colombopage.com/archive_16A/Jan04_1451932045CH.php
- ↑ Thilanga Sumathipala assumes duties as deputy minister
- ↑ 54th Battle of the Maroons - Nalanda Team
- ↑ Sri Lankas former King maker, 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
- ↑ A man on borrowed time. The Sunday Leader, 09 Nov., 2003. Vol 10. Issue 17
- ↑ Sri Lanka Cricket heading in the right direction.Faraz shauketaly.Available online.
- ↑ Sri Lanka Board in gambling Claims.BBC News.Available at news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other.../sri_lanka/4395267.stmCached
- ↑ ICC Code of Ethics.Section 7(d)
- By Lakmal Welabada "'He is unique, that's why I love him'". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- "About Thilanga". vote4thilanga.lk. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- "Sumathi Group of Companies". sumathi.lk. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- By Panchamee Hewavisenti "Biz Buzz for Tomorrow's Leaders". Sunday Observer. 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- "Beliatte battles stump Thilanga". The Sunday Leader. 2009-02-08. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- Thilanga Sumathipala on ‘HOT SEAT’ Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) Video.
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