Sri Lanka Cricket does not use the funds received from the state treasury for the development of cricket, but the money earned by taking the ”Sri Lanka Cricket brand” around the world, 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 Sri Lanka Cricket uses the money it earns for the promotion 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 even summoned before the COPE Committee, which confirmed that there was no fault in its functioning.
Sri Lanka Cricket allocates more than Rs. 250 million annually for school sports in Sri Lanka. Since national level players are produced from the school system, this huge amount can be considered a direct investment. However, there are many occasions when Sri Lanka Cricket has allocated money for those sports, thinking about the associations that are unable to invest money for the welfare of their players.
Not only that, when Sri Lanka was facing a severe economic crisis, the institution took steps to provide nearly a million dollars to the government to purchase medicines.
Sri Lanka Cricket, which is involved in so many national tasks, provides the necessary support to every level of cricket in the country. The recent Sri Lanka-National Cricket Roadmap program, which saw the distribution of 690 junior cricket kits, 9995 pairs of cricket shoes, 970 bowling equipment, 97 kits for cricket coaches and 2760 cricket balls, is a prime example of this.
Those who question what Sri Lanka Cricket does with the money it receives are the ones who think only about the payments made to the national team players.
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.