The Sri Lankan Sports Minister Laksmann Kiriella has been forced to abandon plans to appoint a new National Development Committee following protests from the Interim Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).

Last week the Minister had unilaterally appointed Jayantha Dharmadsa, brother of Upali Dharmadasa, and Ana Punchihewa, a former BCCSL President, among others, into an existing BCCSL development committee headed by Sidath Wettimuny and had recommended the setting up of a seperate infrastructure committee that was to focus on facilities in outstation areas

According to a report in the Daily Mirror today the Interim Committee, headed by Vijaya Malalsekera, was vehmently opposed to the changes, arguing that the original Sidath Wettimuny headed development committee was adequately addressing the developmental and infrastructure needs of outstation areas.

The Daily Mirror report said that the Sports Minister backed down this week when the Interim Committee considered resigning en masse and the President Chandrika Kumaratunga voiced concerns over the Kiriella's intervention. The original Wettimuny headed committee has now been restored.

© CricInfo