SLC claims that they owe no money for the Sooriyawewa project
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Mohan de Silva is of the view that they do not have monetary obligations for the construction of the Sooriyawewa Stadium, in Hambantota.
De Silva said “Initially, the cricket ground which was to be developed in Hambantota was not an elaborate one. It was going to contain only the basics which were needed to host an international game. The rupees one billion that Sri Lanka Cricket initially invested was for the all three facilities at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Pallekelle Stadium and the Sooriyawewa Stadium, in Hambantota.”
The SLC secretary further said that the Sooriyawewa project came also under the Hambantota Development Programme. That came into focus because of the Lankan government’s 31 March 2010, surprise bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games by the city of Hambantota. The first phase of the Port of Hambantota was funded by the government of China. The project also included the Mattala International Airport. Besides, under the Hambantota Development Programme the International Cricket Stadium was also to be built, to facilitate the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup matches were to be hosted. De Silva said “It was built by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and seconded to the China Harbour Company by the Hambantota Development Programme. The main phase of this development was towards the bid and hosting of the Commonwealth Games 2018, which finally went to Brisbane, Australia. ”
De Silva pointed out that in Bangladesh where the 2011 World Cup Cricket was also hosted; some of the facilities were built by their government. However de Silva also added “According to a study conducted by attorney-at-law Prasanna Jayawardena who made a detailed study of the Hambantota Cricket project has discovered that there has been no formal agreement signed between the Ports Authority and Sri Lanka Cricket for this project”.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was due to make a visit to the Sooriyawewa Stadium while making calls also at the Mattala Air Port and the Hambantota Port, yesterday.