Archives

By Shirajiv Sirimane

Sri Lankan advertisers who have put up ground hordings and sign boards at the SSC and R. Premadasa Stadium have protested against the manner in which their sign boards have been covered by the ICC at the ongoing champions trophy cricket tournament.

Managing Director Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd, Kishu Gomes said that it was very unfair for an outside party to dictate terms in Sri Lanka. "Our sponsorship with the SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club) runs into millions and we have even built a pavilion. We have done much for cricket development. We get our value from advertising. But the ICC (International Cricket Council) has been very unfair with the advertisers who have all helped towards the development of cricket in Sri Lanka."

He said that Caltex has an agreement with the SSC to display their boards at all events played at the SSC without interruptions. "But that agreement had been violated."

"Our sign boards have been covered and when the tournament is over we want them to be cleared to the original position. If our advertising boards have been damaged we will seek compensation from the SSC authorities."

A top official from a leading private Bank said that their agreement does not state that their boards could be covered up any time. "We have contacted our lawyers and they have said that there is sufficient provision to take legal action against both the ICC and Cricket board and claim damages.

Since the (Board of Control for Cricket) BCCSL is involved in this event, we do not want to press for legal action which would have put the tournament in jeopardy."

A former sponsor of the Sri Lanka Cricket team said that this is a grave violation of their advertising rights. "We are going to appeal to both the ICC and BCCSL to remove the ceiling of advertising at least for the final match at the R. Premadasa Stadium next Sunday."

An official of the SSC said that they were helpless since their ground was virtually taken over by ICC officials and their marketing arm.

An official of the ICC said that they have had a series of discussions with officials of both the SSC and R. Premadasa Stadium. "We told them we wanted a clean ground without advertising. They agreed and now it is not the ICC problem any more."

He said that opening the sign boards for the final, in the event of Sri Lanka making it to the final cannot be done. "Our agreement stands until the end of the tournament. But we have recommended some compensation for Sri Lankan advertisers."

The ICC champions trophy is the second biggest event after the Cricket world cup which will be held next year in South Africa. It is being competed by all the 10 test playing countries and Kenya and Holland. The event is being organised by the ICC and this year it is being hosted in Sri Lanka.

The tournament was last held in Bangladesh and the next event is scheduled to be held in England. Many observers noted that while the champions trophy is an ICC show it does not mean that it has the total right to block local advertisers. In the wake of this development the onus falls on the local cricket administrators as to why they did not come forward to safeguard the rights of local advertisers who had helped the BCCSL during bad times.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager