No financial crisis in the Cricket Board

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Nishantha Ranatunge has pointed out that there is no financial crisis within Sri Lankan Cricket as projected by certain media.Mr. Ranatunge said there was a deficit of about 600 million rupees when they took over. They were very much determined to develop cricket. Discussions were held with various countries and they look into strategies as to how funds could be brought into the Board. He said that as a group they directed attention to developing cricket. At that time they had only 24 professional cricketers. It was increased to 75 and thereafter in 2010, it was increased to 100. More attention was focused to women’s cricket. Mr. Ranatunge pointed out that Sri Lanka did not have generators needed for the World Cup. They have to incur a heavy expenditure to get down these generators.Mr. Ranatunge was addressing a media briefing summoned to make clarifications on the present situation of Sri Lanka Cricket. He emphasized that all responsibilities of the construction of the Hambantota Stadium were vested with the Sri Lanka Board of Control for Cricket and there had no other influence After a 30-year war, they worked on a programme to improve the sport. Two years before they took over, work on the Hambantota Stadium was launched when Jayantha Dharmadasa was the President of the Board. They considered it was the best option. He added that they opted to it considering the investment side, as the Hambantota Harbour was being built in addition to an International Airport.