Prima barred from sponsoring school cricket tournament

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Colombo District Judge Sisira Ratnayake in an enjoying order yesterday prevented the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association from permitting Prima Ceylon limited and Prima Ceylon Agro Industries Limited to sponsor the matches under 15 District School Cricket Tournament.

The District Court issued a restraining order on Association President Asoka Senani Hewage, Vice President Udaya Kumara Premathilaka and Secretary Dishan Priyantha de Silva after a plaint by Mascom Pvt. Limited was taken up for hearing.

Mascom Pvt. Limited in its plaint claimed that granting permission to Prima Companies to sponsor the matches in breach of rights of the plaintiff in relation to title sponsorship rights and sponsorship rights.

The Plaintiff cited the Association’s President, Vice President and the Secretary Prima Ceylon Ltd., and Prima Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd., Education Minister Susil Premajayantha and Sports and Entertainment Minister Gamini Lokuge as defendants.

The Plaintiff stated that it entered into Memorandum of Understanding with the first, second and third defendants on behalf of the Association on August 06 through which the company reserved the title sponsorship rights, copy rights of match statistics, film rights, mobile (Wireless) rights, Internet (broad band) rights, television and radio rights of Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association for over five years.

The Plaintiff agreed to pay a sum of Rs. 35 million to the Association.

Plaintiff company cited that the Association conducted the opening ceremony of “Prima” Champions Cup 2008 under 15 District Cricket Tournament which is scheduled to commence on September 15.

The plaintiff also stated that it had paid an advance payment a Rs. 1.5 million to the Association to commence the basic operation of the under 15 and under 17 tournaments.

Harsha Cabral PC appeared for the Plaintiff.