COLOMBO, March 30 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's new Cricket Control Board Friday withheld payments on cheques issued by the previous management that was sacked by the Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella, officials said.

The new interim-committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) which was appointed Thursday told banks to report on all cheques issued by the previous management, a board official said.

"There are suggestions that a large number of payments were made just before the previous committee was dissolved," the spokesman said. "As a precautionary measure, the banks have been alerted."

Kiriella named Vijaya Malalasekara as the chairman of a four-member panel to run the crisis-ridden BCCSL.

The minister's action followed allegations that the previous office bearers had violated laws of the sport by not giving adequate notice of an annual general meeting scheduled for Saturday.

Other members of the new panel are Ashantha de Mel, Sidath Wettimuny and Michael Tissera.