Provinces given Special Grant for Development from Sri Lanka Cricket
The 7 provinces of Sri Lanka were granted Rs. 1 million each for the development of cricket in their respective areas. President Sri Lanka Cricket Mr. Upali Dharmadasa together with his executive committee invited the Hon sports minister to hand over these cheques to the respective stakeholders at an event held coinciding with the final of the most successful SLPL. The Winner of the SLPL – Uva Next were awarded Rs. 2.5 million & the runner- up Nagenahira Naga’s got Rs. 1.5 million respectively.
Further more SLC also distributed cricket gear worth Rs. 900,000/- to 22 districts for the development of cricket.
Mr. Dharmadasa stated that “Sri Lanka Cricket hopes to transform the Sri LankanDomestic cricketing outlook, from domestic level to International level. With greater things in mind during their period, I together with the executive committee have decided to fund the districts and the provinces by rewarding them for their hard work with funds and cricket materials to administer, manage, and play cricket in their respective areas”
Further more he stated that “ in the years to come the franchises of the Sri Lanka Premiere League will step forward in a big way to invest further with not only the elite provincial teams but also become an integrated part of the grass root level cricket and its infrastructure that shall be the breeding grounds of up- and – coming crickets, to showcase their talents and skills like Akila Dhanajaya who sprang out from the SLPL.”
Representatives of all franchise owners were present to witness this colourful event, which ended with the distribution of an Administrative Grant of Rs100,000/= To all the provinces & districts by the members of the Executive Committee & the CEO Sri Lanka Cricket Mr. Ajit Jayasekara.
After the event all stake holders of the respective provinces and districts were invited to experience the atmosphere of the SLPL finals between Nagenahira Nagas and Uva Next.