Minister orders Board to borrow Rs. 600 m from BOC to pay cricketers

The Bank of Ceylon has agreed to release Rs. 600 million to Sri Lanka Cricket to pay longstanding dues to national players.

The move follows discussions Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had with the Chairman and Board officials of the Bank of Ceylon along with the officials of the Sri Lanka Cricket to resolve player payments of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Aluthgamage has instructed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to pay the pending salaries up to the month of February to its contracted cricketers by 28 February, the Ministry further said.

The player payments for the month of March 2012 would be paid on time, the Minister stated.

Minister Aluthgamage had also instructed the officials of SLC in writing not to overlook contract payments in the future and that Sri Lanka Cricket should take full responsibility to ensure that player payments are made on time in the future.