Sports Ministry-appointed body to regulate LPL

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardena

A Sports Ministry-appointed regulatory body for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be put in place before the second edition of the T20 tournament takes place in August, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday.

In response to a question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Buddhika Pathirana, Rajapaksa also said steps would be taken to recover an overdue payment to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) from the LPL rights holders Innovation Production Group (IPG).

“The media has reported that SLC has failed to collect $775,000 from the organizers of the event, and we would like to know what is being done about it?” Pathirana asked the Minister in Parliament yesterday.

“SLC will collect the arrears in accordance with a plan,” Minister Rajapaksa replied though not specifying how he would ensure the full payment would be recovered. 

“We have decided to regulate the LPL this year which is to be held in August 2021,” the Minister also said.