Calcutta: The Ranatungas - Arjuna and the younger Nishantha - have come together to try and stop Thilanga Sumathipala from returning as president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
It's a position which means a lot in the island nation.
But while the brothers in one prominent family have united, Sunday's elections will see the Dharmadasas - Jayantha and Upali - in opposite camps.
Not absolutely openly, but those in the thick of things know exactly who stands where.
The stunning developments were indirectly confirmed to The Telegraph by Sidath Wettimuny, soft-spoken chairman of the outgoing interim committee looking after the affairs of SLC.
It's not just that the Dharmadasas, part of Sri Lanka's business elite, are seeing a distinct division. The ruling Establishment has also been split.
One may ask why?
Because World Cup-winning captain Arjuna is a cabinet minister and Sumathipala, who has featured in controversies, is the country's deputy speaker. He's the chairman of the committees of Parliament as well.
Incidentally, like Arjuna, both Jayantha and Upali have headed SLC at different times in its chequered history.
The straight-talking Arjuna is supporting Nishantha's bid for the president's post. The elder Ranatunga is himself a candidate for one of the two positions for vice-presidents.
Arjuna and Nishantha, who was once considered close to Narayanswami Srinivasan, didn't exactly see eye to eye during the years the younger Ranatunga was SLC secretary.
Only, that phase in intra-Ranatunga relations is over.
The Big Fight really is between Arjuna, who has consistently been calling for an end to corruption, and Sumathipala, whose family is/ was directly associated with the legal gambling industry.
Apparently, Sumathipala has said that he no longer has anything to do with the family business, but not everybody in Colombo seems convinced.
Should Sumathipala, who is very strong on "resources," make a dramatic comeback, it would be interesting to see how the International Cricket Council (ICC) reacts.
By the way, not everybody's interpretation of "resources" is quite the same...
While on the ICC, there have been issues regarding Sumathipala in the years gone by, but one wasn't able to get details on Thursday.
As for the Dharmadasas, Jayantha is one of Sumathipala's candidates for the vice-presidency. The younger Upali, however, is backing the Ranatungas.
It will get very interesting if either Sri Lanka's President, Maithripala Sirisena, or the country's Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, get involved directly.
So far, both haven't interfered. Or so, one learns.
Apparently, Wickremesinghe isn't too comfortable with both Nishantha and Sumathipala, but one never knows how things could shape up in the hours immediately before the elections.
"It's not for me to guess who stands the better chance... I've consistently held that for cricket in Sri Lanka to move forward, SLC's constitution needs to be changed...
"I know that key figures in the government are keen on that happening, but I suppose they don't have the time to push through with it...
"At least, not now...
"We need to be absolutely transparent and there has to be accountability. Stability is a must...
"For my part, I've presented a 'Concept Paper' to the government, offering suggestions... It cannot be very good news that SLC has seen as many as eight interim committees in the past 15 or so years," Sidath told this Reporter.
If Sumathipala gets what he's seeking, then expect Arjuna to turn on the heat. Another interim committee to run SLC would then be a strong possibility.
Somebody associated with SLC, who didn't wish to be quoted, quipped: "Watch the fun."
It’s not for me to guess who stands the better chance. I’ve consistently held that for cricket in Sri Lanka to move forward, SLC’s constitution needs to be changed... We need to be absolutely transparent and there has to be accountability. Stability is a must Sidath Wettimuny to The Telegraph
