Sports Minister ordered to pay for water

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday ordered Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to pay for the water supplied to the Sooriyawewa Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Ground from the Meegahajadura Tank.

The Speaker gave the order when the Sports Minister revealed in Parliament that a profit of Rs 1,870 million had been earned by the Sri Lanka Cricket from the World Cup matches held between 19 February and 2 April 2011.

The minister was responding to a question asked by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake on the profits or losses to the SLC from the World Cup matches.

Aluthgamage said that Rs 2,345 mn had been earned as total revenue from the security deposits and from the sales of tickets and total expenditure had amounted to Rs474 mn.

The Minister said a total of 54,840 bonus or complementary tickets had been issued during the series. (SI)