Sri Lankan cricket was in financial limbo today after a court issued an order preventing the newly appointed interim administration from operating the cricket board's bank accounts.
Lawyers said the order would remain until the Commercial High Court had heard arguments from both sides in a case filed by Thilanga Sumathipala, president of the administration that was sacked in March.
"If they want money to the run the board now, the sports minister [Lakshman Kiriella] will have to make interim arrangements," said Sumathipala.
He could not say what arrangements, if any, needed to be made to finance a tour by India and New Zealand which starts on July 15th. The court hearings resume on June 1st.
The court ruling is the latest in a series of legal battles that, together with power struggles and corruption scandals, have hamstrung the administration of Sri Lanka's richest sport for much of the past four years.
Sumathipala's administration was sacked after it lost a legal battle over plans to elect new officials at the end of March.
Soon after dissolving the board, Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella stopped payment on several cheques issued at the 11th hour by Sumathipala's officials.
The interim committee has appointed independent auditors to probe the board's finances.
Reuters