The following is a compilation of key Executive Committee decisions taken at the Executive Committee meeting held on the 20 May at the Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters.
1) Renovations & Repairs to the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium
2) Augmentation of Stadia & Online Ticketing
3) ExCo members to travel to UK at own cost
4) National Development Projects
5) Annual grants to the membership
6) Sri Lanka to support Zimbabwe’s bid to host ICCWC 2019 Qualifiers
7) Tasmania to tour Sri Lanka
1. Renovations & Repair of the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyaweva, Hambantota, for the Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2017.
Under the direction of the National Development Committee (NDC) a comprehensive evaluation of the MRICS & its facilities was conducted by M/s Design Consultants Ltd. and upon carefully consideration of its findings the ExCo has decided to undertake a site inspection to the MRICS together with Engineers and Architects in order to ascertain the feasibility of investing into the renovation of the Stadium with the intention of hosting 3 ODI matches of the forthcoming Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka in July this year.
Under the SLC Super Provincial structure for domestic cricket, Hambantota will be absorbed into the Super Province of Galle, and infrastructure facilities are to be improved in keeping with SLC’s grassroots development projects.
2. Augmentation of Stadia and Online Ticketing
Following the successful implementation of the first phase of the Stadia augmentation project undertaken with the assistance of premier Online Ticketing and Stadia Management agent Book My Show (Pvt.) Ltd, Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to invest in phase II of the said augmentation.
Accordingly, the R Premadasa Stadium has been identified as the first venue to be fitted with a complete crowd management system. The RPICS will be fitted with 40 state-of-the-art Turnstile gates that will efficiently managed the entry and exit of over 24,000 spectators expected to visit the stadium for each match. The approximate cost of this turnkey crowd management and security system is Rs. 70 Million. The first phase of this project was implemented during the Australia tour of Sri Lanka in July/August 2016, and saw an increase in net ticket sales as a direct benefit of the clamp down on illicit printing and sales. This project once completed will see all International venues in Sri Lanka fully modernised with best of range crowd management & security systems. The rationale of this project is to provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for all spectators to enjoy the game of cricket, encouraging fans to catch the games LIVE, boosting the atmosphere and spirit of cricket as well as expanding turnover.
3. ExCo & Committee members will travel to the Champions Trophy at their own cost
Vice Presidents SLC Jayantha Dharmadasa and K. Mathivanan, would travel to the United Kingdom as representatives of SLC at the Champions Trophy 2017 on invitation of the ICC. Joining them is the Chairman of the SLC Financial Advisory Committee and former Treasurer Nuski Mohammed. In keeping with SLC’s stringent fiscal policies, the Executive Committee unanimously decided that all other ExCo and Sub-committee members travelling to the UK for the Champions Trophy 2017, will do so at their own cost.
President Thilanga Sumathipala, Secretary Mohan de Silva, Treasurer Shammi Silva and Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva will travel to London for the ICC Board Meetings at the end of June. Asst. Secretary Raveen Wickramaratne will represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Cricket Council meetings which will also be held concurrently.
Meanwhile in recognition of the service to cricket meted out by sports writers over the years, SLC has extended invitations to 12 publications to nominate a representative sports journalist to cover the Champions Trophy. The nominated journalists will be provided with a return air ticket, and an allowance to assist with expenses in the UK.
4. National Development Projects
The following Projects are to get off the ground imminently and will see the implementation of key areas of SLC’s National Development Projects. One of the key mandates of our administration is the development of infrastructure, facilities and technological expertise in all district of the island, and these projects are part and parcel of this ambition.
Construction of Cricket ground at Monarawila – Ratnapura
• ExCo approved an initial cost outlay of Rs. 3.7 Million to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council through the Ratnapura DCA for the clearing and perimeter fencing of a 6 Acre designated land for this purpose.
Development of Cricket Ground at Air Force Base – Katunayaka
• A grant of Rs. 3.5 Million has been allocated for the development of the Cricket Grounds of the Air Force Base at Katunayaka. The Air Force Sports Club is a key contributor to the domestic cricket circuit with many national contracted players current and past members of the AFSC.
5. Annual Grants for membership
The Annual grants for 2017 to the Provincial Cricket Associations and District Cricket Associations are to be disbursed to Associations that have met with statutory requirements of SLC. Provincial Cricket Associations are to be receive a grant of Rs. 1.5 Million, whilst DCA’s will receive Rs. 500,000/- and minor Districts will receive Rs. 350,000/- each. 32 Controlling & Affiliate Clubs too will receive grants in a bid to develop their infrastructure and other facilities upon strict compliance with statutory requirements.
6. Sri Lanka to support Zimbabwe’s bid to host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Qualifiers
Sri Lanka will support the Zimbabwe Cricket Board in its bid to host the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers in the event Bangladesh qualifies automatically for the WC to be held in 2019. The move will give the board a much needed injection of foreign exchange and boost the game in the country.
7. Tasmania Development Squad to tour Sri Lanka
The Tasmania Development Squad is to tour Sri Lanka in July 2017 for a 3 One Day and 3 T20 series against the Sri Lanka Development Squad. This series in undertaken as a pathways tour for Cricket Tasmania which is an associate member of Cricket Australia. The Sri Lanka Under 19 team were hosted by Tasmania and an invitation XI during their tour of Australia in April this year.
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