Sri Lanka Cricket uses the funds it earns from taking the 'Sri Lanka Cricket brand' around the world, not the funds it receives from the state treasury, for the development of cricket, said Sri Lanka Cricket Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda.
He made these comments while addressing the main event of the Sri Lanka-National Cricket Journey program held at the Duncan White Auditorium.
Although the money earned by Sri Lanka Cricket is used for the promo250 crore a year on school crickettion of cricket in this way, the institution and its funds are subject to government audit. According to the powers vested in it by the Sri Lanka Sports Act, Sri Lanka Cricket is subject to such audit. Last year, due to politically motivated propaganda, Sri Lanka Cricket was summoned before the COPE Committee, and the arguments raised by the MPs and ministers clearly showed how backward Sri Lanka’s Sports Act is compared to the way international sports associations operate.
Sri Lanka Cricket incurs a huge annual cost for school sports in Sri Lanka. This year, it is about Rs. 250 crore. Sri Lanka Cricket is an example for any association that hopes for the future survival of its sport. However, there are many occasions when Sri Lanka Cricket has allocated money for those sports, thinking about the associations that do not have the capacity to invest money for the welfare of their players. Not only that, but at a time when Sri Lanka was facing a severe economic crisis, the institution took steps to provide the government with nearly a million dollars to purchase medicines.
Sri Lanka Cricket, which is involved in so many national tasks, provides the necessary support to every level of the cricket game in the country. The most recent Sri Lanka-National Cricket Roadmap program, among the items distributed among schools, included 690 junior cricket kits, 9995 pairs of cricket shoes, 970 ball throwing equipment, 97 equipment kits for cricket coaches, and 2760 cricket balls.
Those who question what Sri Lanka Cricket does with the money it receives. They only think about the payments made to the national team players. But the responsibilities of Sri Lanka Cricket are spread over a large area. The amount they spend daily for the survival of Sri Lankan cricket should be counted in millions of rupees.
Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda pointed out in the Sri Lanka National Cricket Roadmap that around 50,000 cricket matches are organised annually in Sri Lanka and that not only the inter-club and national level players involved in these matches but also the professional level players such as umpires, scorekeepers, stadium managers and pitch fitters are paid in a professional manner. However, no party criticising Sri Lanka Cricket talks about these expenses.
Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda said this in front of a large crowd gathered at the Sri Lanka Cricket Roadmap. Among the group were Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Shammi Silva, Secretary Bandula Dissanayake, Vice Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa, Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Ashley de Silva, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Vice President Susantha Mendis and many other dignitaries.