Aluthgamage and Kiriella delighted

Hafiz Marikar

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella, in conversation with me said that the two T/20 games played at the Pallekelle Stadium was superb and were delighted with two Twenty20 victories.

Aluthgamage who is a very keen follower of sports believes that both teams, Sri Lanka and Australia displayed quality cricket at the T/20 games and the better side won.

During the ICC World Cup Sri Lanka were runners up and there is good reason for them to produce better performance as the tour unfolds.

The Minister further said that he supports the process and just needs time to ensure cricket goes to the top level once again.

Former Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella who initiated the Pallekelle stadium, said the T-20 cricket was fine, and the two games were well organized and huge crowds witnessed the games with enthusiasm.

Both, Aluthgamage and Kiriella say that the Test match to be played at this Pallekelle Stadium from September 8 to 12 should produce high quality cricket.The Minister and former Minister are products from Royal College and are great followers of cricket and are confident that Sri Lanka Cricket will make it to the top before long.

The Chairman Interim Committee Upali Dharmadasa and his team will have no worries when the Test match is played in Pallekelle because all arrangements will be in the hands of competent people.

The Interim Committee made a profit of Rs. 10 million on the sales of tickets in the two T 20 games and another Rs.3.2 million in the ODI.

Dharmadasa is thankful to the people who did a fantastic job organizing the Pallekelle games. There was Dunstan Goluhewa the Chairman of Tour Organizing committee, Najeeb Deen, Secretary of the Tour Organizing Committee, Jayananda Warnaweera the well-known cricket organizer and curator and C.P.P. Raj who handled the ground matters.

Interim Committee Chairman Upali Darmadasa named three persons from Kandy Thilina Tennakoon, Janaka Pathirane and Hafiz Marikar for all the help. Also helping were Z.M Zarook, Jiffry Abdeen, Sunil Fernando, Lakshman Panditharathne, Virajna Sumanasekara from the KADCA and Lalith Rambukwella from Kegalle DCA, Sujeewa Godaliyadda Matale DCA, N. Ranansinghe,Dambulla who helped. The first T/20 was graced by Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamae, the second by Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the ODI by Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake.

Now arrangements are being made to conduct the 2nd test to be played at the same venue. This will be the first time that the Australians are playing a test at this new venue. All cricket lovers in Kandy are thankful to Upali Dharmadasa and his team for giving Kandy two T-20s, an ODI and a Test match.