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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has finally settled its long-running legal dispute with former Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly paid USD 164,000, which is around Rs. 55 million, to close the case related to the termination of Hathurusingha’s contract.
The settlement brings an end to a legal fight between the SLC and Hathurusingha. The former Sri Lankan head coach had taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland after his contract was terminated by Sri Lanka Cricket. He has now agreed to withdraw the legal proceedings after settling with the SLC.
Chandika Hathurusingha initially demanded USD 5 million from Sri Lanka Cricket
As reported by the Sunday Times, the legal dispute had become a big headache for SLC because Chandika Hathurusingha had initially asked for around USD 5 million in damages for terminating his tenure as the head coach of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.
However, the first legal proceedings before Switzerland’s Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) didn’t proceed. Hathurusingha later took fresh legal action and sought around USD 450,000 from the SLC. Amid this, Shubman Gill injury update: India coach confirms Test availability.
After discussions between both sides, a settlement was reached earlier this year. As part of the agreement, Hathurusingha agreed to accept USD 200,000 as the final settlement amount. This amount included 50 percent of his tax liability.
So, Sri Lanka Cricket paid USD 164,000 to Hathurusingha under the settlement to bring the case to an end. Hathurusingha has also agreed to withdraw his legal proceedings at CAS.
Chandika Hathurusingha’s Record as Sri Lanka Head Coach
Chandika Hathurusingha became Sri Lanka's head coach in December 2017. He took charge at a time when Sri Lankan cricket was going through a tough phase. But his time with the national team did not go as planned.
Sri Lanka played 67 matches under Hathurusingha across the formats in the international arena. The team won 24 matches and lost 38 during his tenure. Apart from the results, his time as coach was also affected by disciplinary problems.
A one-man inquiry later found Hathurusingha guilty on six charges. These included creating tension within the team and not doing enough to prepare players properly. These problems added to the pressure around his position and eventually led to the termination of his contract.
COPE Recommended Settlement
The legal dispute became expensive for Sri Lanka Cricket. The case resulted in high legal costs, with the SLC having to spend money on the proceedings. The matter was also examined by the Committee on Public Enterprises, known as COPE.
COPE recommended that Hathurusingha and the Sri Lankan board try to settle the matter outside the court. The main aim was to stop further legal expenses from building up. The two sides eventually reached an agreement earlier this year.
With the payment of USD 164,000, Sri Lanka Cricket has now closed the dispute. Hathurusingha will withdraw his legal case, ending a long and complicated issue with the SLC.
