Veteran cricket administrator Nishantha Ranatunga's appointment as the Chairman of National Water Supply and Drainage Board has sparked an intense debate on social media.

Ranatunga is a former cricketer who played two ODIs in 1993 and a number of domestic matches.

He has served as the Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, the governing body of cricket in Sri Lanka.

He also served as the secretary of the government-appointed interim-committee that was in charge of the cricket board when stadiums were built and renovated for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. During his tenure at Sri Lanka Cricket, the country managed to secure notable achievements in the cricket world.

Ranatunga was previously appointed by the UPFA government as the Director-General of the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC). He was able to transform the SLRC into a profit-making entity.

He also served as the secretary of the government-appointed interim-committee that was in charge of the cricket board when stadiums were built and renovated for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.[1]

Ranatunga was previously appointed by the UPFA government as the Director General of the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. He also played a senior role at Mihin Lanka, a budget airline started by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government and was able to transform the company into a profit-making one.

There has been a lot of controversy over Ranatunga's role as CEO of CSN, a company allegedly linked to the Rajapaksa family, which the cricket board awarded broadcast rights to. Ranatunga was remanded in connection with a Police investigation into the channel and was later released.