Sri Lanka Cricket waste to cost public Rs.3.2 bn
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is negotiating with government officials to have a whopping sum it owes two state institutions written off. The construction of cricket stadiums at Hambantota, Pallekele and R. Premadasa in the lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 cost SLC a fortune and it still owes a further Rs. 3.2 billion to the State Engineering Corporation and Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
SLC faced with a severe financial crisis is hopeful that its debt will be written off and that burden will be passed on to the public in such an eventuality.
There were severe criticism of the way appointments were made to key positions of the World Cup Secretariat and the SLC’s decision to build three new venues instead of making use of some of the already existing ones like the Dambulla Stadium for the World Cup. .
“Board officials have been having discussion with Dr. P. B.Jayasundara, Secretary to Treasury in a bid to have the debt written off; there has been good progress and we are hopeful of achieving that end,” a top SLC official told The Island.
Asked whether he did not consider the projects an utter waste of funds, the official defended the SLC: “These grounds are investments that will benefit us in the long run. If we hadn’t got them we wouldn’t have been able to secure the hosting rights for last year’s World T-20.”
(Courtesy: The Island)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Imported milk powder price reduction uncertain amidst importers’ disagreement April 25, 2024
- Sri Lanka and Iran sign five agreements to boost bilateral relations April 25, 2024
- 12th International Meeting on Security Matters: High-Ranking officials convenes in Saint Petersburg April 24, 2024
- Uma Oya Development Project inaugurated April 24, 2024
- Damitha Abeyratne and husband granted bail April 24, 2024
This is not the only instance of waste; there are many others which are swept under the carpet and “shaped” up.
Did the readers note the massive public gathering organised by the Ven Theripaha Siridhamma Thero at Rathupaswela grounds? this was a ground breaking event where the Ven Theripaha Siridhamma Thero clearly marshalled peoples power to ask for justice.
The Ven Theripaha Siridhamma Thero is on the pathway to the alternative peoples force. It should be noted that the Ven Theripaha Siridhamma Thero is providing single-handed leadership to the oppressed masses unlike the BBS and RB which command a fleet of resources including manpower, buildings, vehicles and bank accounts that are topped to the brim.
I wish the Ven Theripaha Siridhamma Thero the best in his journey of redemption.
There is no reason as to why debts should be written off but the stadium constructed should pay up over the years. The board ought to have worked out the feasibility.
3 billion rupees is a lot of money by any standard
there are several large towns with populations between 50 to 100 thousand with no running water that would improve the quality of life for decades to come.
Investment in housing in urban areas would help to rid the ciry of the shanties.
There are hundreds of schools with no sanitation
let alone providing the minimum facilities.
Cricket fans could get the same thrill watching our players in action on TV at the fraction of the cost.
N