Former Sri Lanka cricket captain and present Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga stated that he would not have let Muttiah Muralitharan take up the consultancy job with Australia if Muralitharan had asked for his opinion.

Ranatunga made this observation taking part in a discussion in Colombo yesterday.

However, Ranatunga also pointed out that the Australians have proved they were wrong in the 1990s on Muralitharan's action.

Furthermore, Ranatunga had extremely harsh words to the Sri Lanka Cricket, echoing what Muralitharan had also said. "The SLC does not want the contribution of retired local cricketers. Sanath Jayasuriya was saced. Eric Upashantha was sacked, Pushpakumara was sacked. Vaas, Chandana were sacked," he pointed out. This leaves the retired players with no option but to seek jobs elsewhere, Ranatunga added.

Meanwhile Ranatunga also had harsh words for Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. "Sports Minister should focus on these issues. However, one gets the feeling that he is also under the influence of the SLC" he said.