On Friday, November 24, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) charged that the Ministry of Sports had misled both the public and SLC with confusing information regarding how they had used a Rs. 289 million grant that SLC had given to the National Sports Fund. There were multiple differences between the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs’ press release detailing the allocation of funds and the document that Sri Lanka Cricket had got from the Ministry under the Rights to Information (RTI) Act.
The Ministry of Sports released information on November 13, 2023, regarding 47 items detailing the SLC’s 289 million rupee grant’s expenditure, according to the SLC. However, rather than the 47 activities listed in the media release, the ministry has spent money on 67, according to a document that SLC received on November 23 under the RTI Act.
Additionally, a comparison between the Ministry’s media release and the paper that the SLC received reveals a mismatch in the numbers for 33 items. For this reason, the SLC has asked the Ministry of Sports to clarify these distinctions in order to promote accountability and openness.
According to a separate SLC release, the Sri Lanka Cricket Selectors have selected Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera to compete in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 despite their injuries.
The Ministry of Sports rejected the selection of Chameera and Hasaranga.
Nevertheless, the two had to be excluded since the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs’ National Sports Selection Committee required the cricket players’ medical clearance before approving their inclusion in the team.
In order to play them in the major competition once they have healed from their injuries, the SLC was unable to transport them to India. Notably, midway through the tournament, a couple additional injuries to the squad forced Chameera and Angelo Mathews to travel to India to join the squad as reserves.
With two victories from seven matches and four points overall, Sri Lanka ended in second place. Chameera went on to play four matches in the tournament, while Mathews played five.
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