Over Rs. 40 million has been spend by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for accommodation and food for its officials, drivers and for teams for the recently completed Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament, it was revealed in Parliament yesterday.

This was revealed by SJB MP, Thushara Indunil Amarasena who questioned as to how SLC spent this amount despite the assurance that the organisation of the tournament was  handed over to a private company.

“Total bill for the food purchased from Shangri La Hotel in Hambantota for SLC officials for the LPL has been Rs. 10.5m while a sum of Rs. 5.5m has been spent for SLC drivers, another Rs. 1.3m has been spent to purchase food for Sri Lanka Army, another Rs. 1.8m has been spent for the food for the teams which participated in the tournament and further Rs. 178,246 has been spent for food for a person named, Upali Manukularatne. In addition, Rs. 75,382 has been spent for food and lodging of West Indian player Andre Russell. All these have been paid by SLC despite the assurance that SLC will not spend for the LPL,” the MP said.

Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa who responded requested the MP to hand over the bill to him.

“Hand me the bill so that I could examine the authenticity of it. I will have to look into it and determine its authenticity before taking any action,” he said. 

(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardena)