SL Cricket over billed for more than billion rupees – Minister 

by Saman Indrajith-May 7, 2014

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament yesterday that the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) and the Ports Authority had overbilled Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to the tune of over Rs. 350 million for reconstruction work on the Khettarama and Pallekele cricket Stadiums, while the contractors of the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota had overbilled SLC to the tune of over Rs. 700 million.

Minister Aluthgamage said that SLC had not paid the Rs. 350 million after it was found that it was well over the estimated amount.

In case of the Hamba-ntota Stadium, a committee had been appointed to look into the inflated bill before any decision was made to pay the contractor, he said.

The Minister said in response to a question raised in the House by JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka on the fixed assets of SLC. The Minister said the finances of SLC were in order and a response had been sent to the Auditor General. MP Dissanayake in his statement said that there had been media reports highlighting frauds alleged to have taken place at the SLC. The MP demanded to know what action the government would take to sort out the crisis situation in the SLC and to investigate the alleged frauds.