SLSCA sponsor takes on SLC sponsor in schools bout

Masscom (Pvt) Ltd, an event management company which has pumped a massive sum of Rs. 35 million to boost junior cricket, has threatened to take legal action against the sponsor of the new Under-15 tournament introduced by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Though the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), which governs inter-school cricket, recently signed event management company Masscom for a period of Rs. 35 million for the next five years in a lucrative deal which was the first of its kind to boost junior cricket in Sri Lanka.

Though the SLSCA has handed over the marketing rights of all junior cricket tournaments at school level, the SLC organised a new Under-15 tournament, signing up with Prima Ceylon Limited.

In an alarming letter to the new SLC Under-15 sponsor Prima Ceylon Limited, Masscom warned that any attempt by the floor manufacturing giant to patronise, sponsor, fund or conduct any tournament for schools without the approval of the SLSCA will be met with immediate legal action. The tournament that was scheduled to commence yesterday, would be an under-15 schools tournament for the Prima Trophy.

“We wish to bring to your notice that Masscom has entered into a five-year exclusive sponsorship on the sixth of August 2008 with the SLSCA , wherein all sponsorship rights to all cricket tournaments involving school children have been given to our company”, Masscom (Pvt) Ltd Director Thilanga Sumathipala said in s letter to Prima Ceylon Ltd. The latter said the SLSCA is bound to operate exclusively with Masscom for all the district, provincial, zonal, development squads, tournaments and matches (three days, two days, one day, twenty-twenty, six a side or any other tournament.

The latter warned that any move by Prima to go ahead with the inaugural Under-15 inter-district tournament and gain advertising mileage will be a controversial move which would end up in courts.

“Should Prima persist with the SLC sponsorship they have signed, it would cause Masscom immense loss and damage and your are hereby put on notice that should your company proceed any further with regard to the aforesaid sponsorship our company would be compelled take legal action against your company”, Masscom warned the controversial SLC sponsor.

The mater has already been brought to the notice of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Sports and Public Recreation. It is understood that the SLSCA has requested the Ministry of Education to discourage Prima from going ahead with the new inter-district tournament.