'Captain Cool' resigns as Deputy Minister of tourism

Colombo, July 20 (UNI) Sri Lanka's only cricket world cup winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, today resigned as the Deputy Minister of Tourism , reportedly clearing the way to enter the administration of the Sri Lanka Cricket, officials here said.

The resignation by the Colombo district parliamentarian of the ruling party, Arjuna Ranatunga, well-known as 'Captain Cool' comes a few days after he led a team of 11 ex-test cricketers to meet President Mainda Rajapakse to brief him on the current state of administration of the Sri Lanka Cricket and its implications on the national cricket team, which is considered one of the main contenders of the 2007 world cup.

During the meeting with President Rajapakse, Mr Ranatunga and his team have urged him that the administration of the Sri Lanka Cricket should be governed by the ex-cricketers and offered his service to be part of such administration.

It is notably, following this meeting that Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga cancelled the general election for the Sri Lanka Cricket and decided to continue with the incumbent interim administration.

UNI XC SB RN1824