SLC appoints Senanayake new manager of team

Colombo, Jul 23 (UNI) The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee today appointed former Test cricketer Charith Senanayake as the new manager of the national team for the ongoing home series against India.

''The SLC interim committee led by Arjuna Ranatunga met yesterday evening and after lengthy deliberations finally appointed former Test cricketer as the new manager of the Sri Lankan team for the current series,'' SLC media manager Shane Fernando said today.

''The Sports Minister has also ratified this appointment,'' Fernando added, indicating that the controversy over the appointment of the manager for the home series has now been resolved.

Senanayake, a former left-handed middle-order batsman had played three Tests matches in New Zealand in 1991, during which the veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya made his Test debut.

The 45-year-old has also played a dozen one-day internationals during the same period.

Last week, the Sri Lnakan sports minister had rejected the previous appointment of former Test captain Hashan Tillekaratne by the SLC, for his political associations.

However, Tillekaratne was not immediately available for comment in the matter.

Tillekeratne, 41, who currently holds the position of an electoral organiser for the main opposition United National Party (UNP) in the district of Colombo, has played for Sri Lanka as a wicketkeeper-batsman between 1989 and 2004.

UNI XC PY RKM NS2110