SLC donates Rs.120 mn. to NSF
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) donated 120 million rupees to the National Sports Fund (NSF), earned by selling match tickets during the Australia tour of Sri Lanka in 2022.The grant was made in keeping with a promise Sri Lanka Cricket made to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs while the Australian tour was on.
According to a senior official of the SLC the grant was disbursed as part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s mission to help develop all sport activities in the country. The latest grant is the result of an initiative by SLC President Shammi Silva and members of Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee.
The Australia tour of Sri Lanka took place during June and July 2022, and consisted of two Test matches, five one-day internationals, and three Twenty20 internationals. The funds were handed over to the Ministry of Sports and Youth on November 3.
Earlier in the year, Sri Lanka Cricket also donated a sum of Rs. 100 million to the National Sports Fund and another Rs. 22.5 million to help Sri Lanka’s participation in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, and a donation of Rs. 2 million each (totaling Rs. 36 million) was given to the netball players and coaches who represented Sri Lanka and won the Asian Netball Championship.
Meanwhile Sports Ministry and SLC have more discussions about development of the Sri Lanka Sports. The Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe said the discussion made for the development of the Diyagma Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex is a success. The SLC has agreed to give their support to develop the Sport Complex while Sports Ministry had discussion about the new International cricket Stadium at Diyagama. It’s very important as the Diyagama Stadium is near the Kottawa Highway exit and Sport Ministry has negotiated to clear the land and SLC is also willing to construct the international stadium with their own money, added Sports Minister.
The SLC President Shammi Silva already discussed with the Sports Ministry and gave their future plans for the calendar year and their match tickets selling income is worth for the sport developments. SLC also planned to conduct the third annual Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tournament from December 6 to 24 and for the first time it will be conducted at three venues Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Stadium and last stage of the matches will be played at the R. Premadasa International cricket stadium.
Prior to the LPL Sri Lanka cricket white ball team has to engage with Afghanistan ODI three match series which will be conducted on November 25, 27 and 30 at the Pallekele International cricket stadium as day night matches.