SLC granted over Rs. 289m to the National Sports Fund

By Susil Premalal

COLOMBO (Daily Mirror) - It is reported that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has granted more than Rs. 289m to the National Sports Fund (NSF) operating under the Ministry of Sports for the last two years 2021-2022.

Based on an agreement reached between SLC and the Minister of Sports, the relevant financial support amount has been offered to the NSF from September 21, 2021, to May 10, 2023.

The funds granted by SLC have been disbursed for the Tokyo Paralympics Medallists (Rs.11,000,000.00), Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships (Rs.22,500,000.00), Ministry of Sports and Department of Sports Development National Sports Funds Programmes (Rs.100,000,000.00), Asian Netball Championship 2022 (Rs.36,490,000.00) and Australia T20 cricket ticket income (Rs.120,000,000.00).

The final cash balance of the NSF on September 30, 2023, is Rs. 45,153,345.00, of which Rs. 32,640,821.00 is the aid money given by SLC.

In addition to this under the NSF (Rs. 26,500,00.00) for Paralympics Medallists and volleyball, athletic, badminton, boxing, gymnastic, squash, aquatics, wrestling, hockey, and Department of Sports Travelling Bags Preparation (Rs.18,750,000.00), Department of Sports Under-20 World Athletics, National Youth Games and Commonwealth Games 2022 Medallists (Rs. 100,964,670.00) and Asian Netball Winners, World Cup Netball and Asian Youth Netball Championship (Rs. 38,000,000,00), volleyball Bangladesh tour, Anuruddha Wijesingha - Dubai Asia Cup Stage 111, Department of Sports Freedom Cycle Tour, NYSC sports goods, Susanthika Jayasinghe retirement, Para Table Tennis Championship, Schools Football Tournament, etc. Rs. 73,134,509.00 has been paid.

Accordingly, out of the sponsorship amount of Rs. 289,990,000.00 given by SLC, the amount spent by the NSF is Rs. 257,349,179.00.

In relation to the amount that SLC has given to the NSF, the Director General of the Department of Sports Development, Dr. Shemal Fernando, said: ‘I will find out and tell you.’