Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided not t o renew t he contract of their legal officer Savithri Fernando amidst rather controversial circumstances as they are on the verge of finalising a few TV rights deals amounting to billions of rupees.

Fernando who had been working for that SLC since 2013 has been entrusted with the task of perusing the contract documents, and SLC’s decision to do away with her services has raised a few eye brows as she has gained considerable experience and a thorough knowledge of the subject in the past two years, SLC sources told “Daily Mirror”.

SLC is to finalise the contract for the local TV rights for which the highest bid received has been Rs 15 million while the pending TV rights deal for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka by India is estimated to be worth around US $ 10 million (Rs. 1.3 billion). SLC is now expected to out-source the evaluation of contract terms for the TV deals.

Inside sources said that Fernando was only paid Rs. 75,000 monthly for her services, and it was shocking to see that a top corporate entity like SLC which makes an income of billions of rupees has decided to view the payment to the Legal Officer as an exorbitant sum.

Meanwhile SLC has also taken a commendable policy decision to strictly adhere to an age limit for their employees.

Contracts of no employees over the age of 57 would be renewed, sources said.

Former SLC Chief Executive Air Vice Marshal Ajit Jayasekara who is presently the Director of SLPL and also the Head of the Anti Corruption Unit of SLC, SLC Anti Corruption Officer SSP Lakshman de Silva, SLC Security Manager SSP S.M. Ranasinghe are among the top officials due to leave SLC under the new policy. Muttiah Muralitharan’s former coach Sunil Fernando who is currently working as Manager – Coaching is also among the top employees on the way out.

However the SLC Interim Committee has decided to make an exemption to this rule to recently appoint Sri Lanka Team Manager Gerry Woutersz who is 65. “They felt that a mature official should be in charge of the cricketers” said a source.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka