Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has issued a statement clarifying assertions made by the Minister of Sports in Parliament regarding the transfer of USD 2 million from its accounts.
The SLC categorically denied any attempt to transfer funds from its accounts to third-party accounts.
Addressing the matter, the SLC said that as the governing entity for cricket in Sri Lanka, it receives funds and sponsorship income in USD, which are intentionally kept in its USD accounts to leverage exchange rate fluctuations.
“However, it is important to note that the SLC needs to carry out its operations in Sri Lanka and fulfil financial obligations to stakeholders, including suppliers, regularly. To meet these expenses, SLC follows the practice of transferring funds from its USD account to its local currency (LKR) accounts. This has been a longstanding practice, as SLC does not derive significant income in local currency. It is crucial to highlight that these transfers are solely for operational purposes and are not indicative of any attempt to transfer funds out of SLC’s accounts.
“Thus, any claims stating that SLC is trying to transfer funds out of its accounts are false and factually incorrect. It is evident that such assertions have been made with ulterior motives, aiming to create unnecessary public unrest against SLC,” the cricket administration said.
The SLC further said that it operates by the provisions of its constitution, which prohibits cash payments exceeding Rs. 10,000/-.
“Accordingly, and to clarify the misconceptions, we have taken steps to release a schedule to the Parliament and to the Ministry of pending payments, for which cheques have been issued to suppliers, stakeholders, and third parties who have provided services to SLC. The schedule covers the period from 17th August 2023 to 8th November 2023 and ensures that the necessary funds are available in our LKR account to fulfil these payments upon presentation to the bank,” it said.
Stating that it remains committed to transparency and upholding the integrity of its operations, the SLC urged the public to disregard any misinformation and rely on authentic sources for accurate information.
The SLC added that it continues working diligently to support cricket development in Sri Lanka and maintain good governance.
Sri Lanka Cricket issued the clarification after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe today alleged that a group of senior SLC officials were attempting to withdraw USD 2 million from a state bank account.
Addressing the debate on SLC in Parliament today, the Sports Minister said he had received information that a group of SLC officials are currently attempting to obtain USD 2 million from the account of a state bank branch located near Independence Square in Colombo, in a supposed bid to flee the country.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe urged that expeditious measures be taken to suspend the passports of the said individuals, adding that one official has already left the country. (NewsWire)
