Cricketers salaries before Dec 15

Parliament Reporters

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated in parliament Thursday that the salaries of Sri Lanka cricketers for the series following the world cup this year would be paid before December 15.

Responding to a supplementary question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, the minister said that Sri Lanka cricket was expecting to receive payments from the ICC to the tune of US$ 4.3 million for co-hosting the world cup. Once that is received the cricketers’, salaries backlog would be cleared by December 15.

The minister said that Rs 4.283 billion had been spent to construct the Sooriyawewa International cricket stadium and the cost was covered by Sri Lanka cricket.

the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had provided consultancy for designing and architecture of this stadium.

When asked to reveal to the House the expenditure breakdown, the minister said that the construction cost of the sports complex was Rs 83,734,558.43, and light bulbs Rs 307,182,286.76. The annual maintenance expenses of the stadium are security, Rs 510,756, technical requirements Rs 1,000,000, technical fees Rs 540,000, Labour wages Rs 7,020,000, garden maintenance, (fuel, fertiliser, medicine, soil) Rs 1,672,000, water Rs 1,000,000, electricity Rs 8,400,000 and miscellaneous expenses of Rs 3,000,000 making a total of Rs 25,039,560.