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The curious case of Mahindananda

Published

10 months ago

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Mahindananda Aluthgamage

One of the golden vintages of Sri Lankan cricket spanned the years between 2009 and 2014. It was an era when the national side punched above its weight and danced with giants on the world stage. With stars like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan and Tillakaratne Dilshan in full flow, Sri Lanka stormed into four World Cup finals, conquered new frontiers – including their first-ever series win in Australia – and stood toe-to-toe with India and England in all formats.

Behind the scenes, cricket brains like Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya chaired selection panels, while Marvan Atapattu added tactical brilliance in the coaching corner. At the helm of administration was the ever-dignified Anura Tennakoon, a former captain himself. It was a well-oiled machine taking Sri Lanka to dizzying heights.

And then there was Mahindananda Aluthgamage – the Sports Minister of the time – trying to pad up and take credit. He seemed to fancy himself a major stakeholder in Sri Lanka’s success story.

While he mostly kept his nose clean during his sports tenure despite a few no-balls, it was his later stint as Agriculture Minister that finally landed him in hot water. Last week, he was remanded in connection with the import of a questionable consignment of organic fertilizer from China in 2021. The courts will now decide whether his innings crossed the line.

Having observed him closely during his time as Sports Minister, it was clear that he was forever flirting with the line outside off stump. Known to be easily misled by opportunists whispering sweet nothings in his ear, Mahindananda often ended up wielding the axe against men who minded their own business.

Take the saga of Kumar Sangakkara – then the captain and a colossus of world cricket. Sanga was needled many times. His tipping point came in 2011 when he delivered the MCC Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s. The speech earned a standing ovation. The late Vijaya Malalasekara, himself moved to tears, was one of many who walked away feeling proudly Sri Lankan that evening.

But not everyone was pleased. Mahindananda cherry-picked a few lines from the lecture and demanded a probe. SLC President Upali Dharmadasa was told repeatedly to call for an explanation from Sanga and either fine or suspend him. Eventually, he met Sanga over dinner. When Sangakkara inquired what penalty was in store, Upali, with a smile replied, “Just pay the dinner bill.” It was a deft stroke of statesmanship that averted an international scandal and preserved Sri Lanka’s dignity.

Ironically, Sanga would later go on to become the first non-British President of the MCC – a role Upali seemed to foresee, though it clearly eluded Mahindananda’s radar.

Mahindananda did have his moments. One of his finest came when the Hambantota stadium – planted deep in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s electorate – was at risk of missing the ICC’s construction deadline. With the ground half-baked and time running out, Mahindananda rolled up his sleeves, camped at the site for two weeks and supervised the work with military precision. The ICC, during their second visit, gave the green light. It was a major victory and Mahindananda’s stock soared with the Rajapaksas, who until then had seen him as a Chandrika loyalist.

But that high was short-lived.

Lavish infrastructure projects – Hambantota, Pallekele and the revamped R. Premadasa  – left Sri Lanka Cricket bankrupt. They couldn’t pay players, coaches, or staff. State-run entities like the Ports Authority and State Engineering Corporation, who constructed the venues, never saw their dues. In the end, the loans were written off, and the taxpayer was left to foot the bill. Mahindananda should have got into trouble then.

Worse still, just as a probe into these shady dealings was about to commence, sensitive files vanished from SLC offices and CCTV footage went missing. It was as if a ghost had pulled off a perfect heist between overs.

Then came his most outlandish delivery: claiming the 2011 World Cup final was fixed. He alleged that four last-minute changes were made to the playing XI. But the truth was far less dramatic – Sri Lanka had announced their team a full two days before the final, with all national dailies carrying it. Aravinda de Silva, then Chairman of Selectors, called for an ICC probe. The Anti-Corruption Unit led by Alex Marshall, ex-Scotland Yard, found no foul play. Mahindananda, by now short on credibility, was left with egg on his face. This newspaper in an editorial summed it up, “A bull in a China shop is less troublesome than Mahindananda.”

Under his watch, sport became a political puppet show. Elections to national sports bodies were stage-managed. Even clubs weren’t spared. Colts Cricket Club’s magnanimous president K. Mathivanan was gently nudged out to make room for a government-friendly face. Havelock SC, across the road, suffered a similar fate when it came to rugby. Mathivanan, fearing for his business, stepped aside. Others who resisted were silenced.

To be fair, not all of it was Mahindananda’s fault. Then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three sons had their fingers in several sporting pies and at times, the Sports Minister was merely fielding at third man, not able to call the shots.

Yet, he can’t be absolved. He filled the Cricket Board with Royal College old boys, used parliamentary privilege to sling mud at respected administrators and allowed cronies to wield undue influence. Some of those administrators still serve in sport. Mahindananda, on the other hand, is now watching the game from the sidelines – behind bars.

His mouth often moved faster than his mind. When he declared IPL players must return early for the England Test series, it sounded like music to patriotic ears. But India flexed its muscle and he was forced to backtrack. Unbeknownst to him, SLC had already granted No Objection Certificates. The Minister had no clue – a classic case of playing the wrong line.

Yet, he wasn’t all bluster. Fluent in Sinhala, Tamil and English, he mingled easily with the public, wore his Royal tie with pride and was present at nearly every funeral of a sporting figure. He burned the midnight oil for causes he believed in and these gestures did not go unnoticed.

But when you play fast and loose, take blind swings and trust the wrong dressing room whispers, the scoreboard eventually catches up. He may have escaped a few stumpings as Sports Minister, but his high-risk innings in agriculture has finally seen the bails come off.

by Rex Clementine ✍️


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Sports

A good Samaritan

Published

6 hours ago

on

2026/03/26

By

Ruchira Palliyaguruge

by Rex Clementine

Last week, the scorebooks of school cricket needed a fresh rewrite as Kingswood College, Kandy broke a 68-year hoodoo to clinch their Big Match against Dharmaraja College in the hill capital. Almost in tandem, down south, another long wait ended when St. Servatius’ College, Matara turned the tables on arch-rivals St. Thomas’ College, Matara, sealing a famous win after 55 years.

St. Servatius’ rise has not been a flash in the pan. For the better part of 15 years, they have been punching well above their weight, taking guard in Division 1 and holding their own against the heavyweights. The production line has not dried either, with a steady stream of Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketers making their mark on bigger stages. In many ways, they have helped put outstation cricket back on the front foot.

Behind the sightscreen, however, stands a quiet architect. Ruchira Palliyaguruge, a name that may not grab headlines but one that has been doing the hard yards. A former teammate of Sanath Jayasuriya at St. Servatius’, Ruchira was no mug with the bat or ball, enjoying a prolific domestic career after narrowly missing the national cap.

Post-retirement, he swapped spikes for the white coat, rising through the ranks to officiate on the ICC panel, standing in matches across the globe. But his most telling contribution has come away from the glare of international arenas.

In the aftermath of the Big Match triumph, it emerged that for two decades Ruchira had been quietly footing the bill for the school’s cricket coaches, no drum roll, no fanfare, just a man playing a straight bat for a cause close to his heart.

This has not been merely about opening his wallet. He has invested time, energy and know-how, ensuring the game at St. Servatius’ keeps moving in the right direction. Even after the boys hang up their school caps, he has remained in their corner, helping them find employment and navigate life beyond the boundary.

Good Samaritans like Ruchira are the need of the hour if outstation cricket is to stay in the game. While Colombo schools enjoy the luxury of deep pockets and old boys’ networks, many rural schools are forced to play on a sticky wicket. It is through the generosity and vision of individuals like him that the game continues to tick over smoothly beyond the city limits.

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Wins for Inqube Global , WSO2, Star Garments, MAS Active Kreeda, CDB ‘B’ and Wiley Global Technology on Sunday [22]

Published

7 hours ago

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2026/03/26

By

15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Inqube Global, WSO2, Star Garments, MAS Active Kreeda , CDB ‘B’ and Wiley Global Technology emerged victorious in the league stage matches of the Stafford Motors sponsored, MCA G division T20 League Cricket Tournament played on Sunday 22nd March.

At the SLC Ground in Banadaragama, Kanishka Eshan grabbed four wickets and Hiranga Jayasinghe and Suresh Madusanka chipped in with 40 runs and 30 runs respectively to help Inqube Global beat Swisstek Ceylon by four wickets to lead group F of the tournament. Daminda Wijekoon contributed 58 runs off 38 balls for the losers. In the afternoon game at the same venue Dimutu Madushan captured four wickets to help WSO2 defeated Hayleys Group by five wickets .

At the Royal College Grounds, Star Garments registered their fourth win in four outings defeating Pyramid Wilmar by one wicket in the penultimate ball of their innings. In a group B game played in the afternoon, MAS Active Kreeda consigned group leaders Emar Pharma to their second defeat in the tournament.

At de Mazenod College Grounds in Kandana, Chathuranga Dikkumbura and Isuru Jayaranga scored 39 runs each to help CDB ‘B’ registered a net run rate boosting ten wicket win over Sysco Labs. In the afternoon match Panitha Dangalla and Sayuru Wanasinghe guided Wiley Global Technology to a five wicket win over 99X.

At SLC Grounds Bandaragama:

Inqube Global won by 4 wickets

Swisstek Ceylon 174/8 in 20 overs

[Lasith Karunathilake 10, Danidu Wijekoon 58, Tihan Senanayake 17, Dushmantha Dias 33, Lahiru Piyumal 25, Nadeera Liyanage 16; Isuru Lakshan 1-21, Lahiru Subashana 1-35, Kanishka Eshan 4-25]

Inqube Global 175/6 in 19.5 overs

[Hiranga Jayasinghe 40, Isuru Lakshan 18, Suresh Madusanka 30, Sanindu Deshan 23*, Upul Chandra 23; Dushmantha Dias 1-16, Tihan Senanayake 1-25, Saranga Lakshan 1-18, Lahiru Piyumal 1-18, Gamini Wanasinghe 2-35]

WSO2 won by five wickets

Hayleys Group 127/8 in 20 overs

[Adeesha Jayarathna 50, Dilan Suraweera 13, Lasantha Prabath 31*; Dimuthu Madushan 4-19, Osanda Herath 1-25, Oshanda Yomal 2-24, Dev Wijewarden 1-14]

WSO2 132/5 in 18.5 overs

[Devin Jayasinghe 42, Isuru Ruhunage 31, Kaveesha Rajapaksha 19, Osanda Herath 13, Dev Wijewardena 15*; Mahesh Deepal 1-15, Lasantha Prabath 1-45, Pasindu Adithya 2-14, Sumudu Marasinghe 1-39]

At Royal College Grounds:

Star Garments won by 1 wicket

Pyramid Wilmar 140/10 in 20 overs

[Lasith Fernando 54, Shanaka Fernando 24, Sahas Vihanga 21; Randu Fernando 2-25, Dunik Perer 1-29, Dhanuka Dulanjana 1-21, Yohan Aloka 2-25, Rishantha Anushka 2-19]

Star Garments 141/9 in 19.5 overs

[Nadeesha Rajakaruna 12, Chathuranga Dilshan 13, Yohan Aloka 25, Shakila de Silva 22, Randu Fernando 20, Dhanuka Dulanjana 17*; Budhdhika Herath 2-22, Udesh Nishan 3-23, Umeda Madusha 2-23, Upeksha Lakshan 2-31]

MAS Active Kreeda won by 5 wickets

Emar Pharma 101/10 in 20 overs [Janith Jayasinghe 23, Devinda Ayesh 26, Dishan Hettiarachchi 30; Suventhiran Subikaran 2-28, Adeesha Miyusara 1-18, Sivakumar Partheepan 3-12, Kanesh Piratheepan 2-23]

MAS Active Kreeda 103/4 in 12.1 overs

[Jineetha Malith 14, Adeesha Miyusara 28, Suventhiran Subikaran 29*; Deshan Fernado 3-34, Rajendran Sagitharan 1-21]

At De Mazenod College Grounds

CDB ‘B’ won by 10 wickets

Sysco Labs 79/9 in 13 overs

[Bhagya Dissanayake 20, Chathura Hennanayake 10; Vishwa Dhananjaya 2-14, Chamod Madushan 2-17, Dhanushka Dharmasiri 1-08, Dasun Senevirathne 1-09]

CDB ‘B’ 82/0 in 20 overs

[Chathuranga Dikkumbura 39*, Isuru Jayaranga 39*]

Panitha and Sayuru power Wiley Gliobal to a 5 wicket win

99X 122/7 in 20 overs

[Sachith Jayasinghe 14, Ishrath Raji 35, Sameera Piyasundera 18, Saranga Liyanage 19; Sayuru Wanasinghe 1-13, Lilan Karunarathne 1-14, Omal Bhagya 2-25]

Wiley Global Technology 125/5 in 15.4 overs

[Thushara Peiris 19, Lilan Karunarathne 15, Panitha Dangalla 40*, Sayuru Wanasinghe 25*; Sachith Jayasinghe 1-31, Kushan Rathnayake 2-21, Ishrath Raji 1-21, Saranga Liyanage 1-19]

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Deneth ton, Mevindu five-for highlight Dharmaloka–Sumangala quarter-final battle

Published

7 hours ago

on

2026/03/26

By

Kaveen Deneth / Mevindu Kumarasiri

An impressive century by opener Kaveen Deneth and a five-wicket haul from Mevindu Kumarasiri highlighted an absorbing first day in the Under 19 Division I Tier B quarter-final between Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya and Sri Sumangala College, Panadura played at Kuruvita on Wednesday.

‎After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Sri Sumangala kept the pressure on by striking at regular intervals. However, Deneth produced a determined innings to anchor the Sri Dharmaloka batting line-up and keep his team in the contest.

‎Sri Sumangala made the early breakthrough in only the second over when paceman Sihas Nethdinu dismissed Mewan Randeepana without scoring. Deneth then shared a brief partnership with Tharusha Mihiranga, whose 24-ball stay produced just seven runs.

‎With Sri Dharmaloka struggling at 30 for 2 in the 10th over, Deneth steadied the innings and received useful support from the middle order. Senuka Pehesara contributed 29 runs, while Chanul Nethsitha (17) and Koshitha Adithya (19) also chipped in with valuable runs.

‎Deneth’s patient knock of 106 off 161 balls, which included 12 fours and two sixes, proved crucial in holding the innings together as Sri Dharmaloka were eventually bowled out for 211 in 76.3 overs.

‎Sri Sumangala’s bowling honours went to Mevindu Kumarasiri, who delivered a tireless spell and finished with impressive figures of 5 for 82 in 32.3 overs, emerging as the standout bowler of the day.

‎In reply, Sri Sumangala encountered early trouble as spinner Sathindu Prabodha struck in successive overs to put the Panadura side under pressure.

‎At stumps on day one, Sri Sumangala were struggling at 11 for 2, setting up an intriguing second day in this closely contested quarter-final encounter.

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