Colts Cricket Club, an entity whose office bearers took up spears against the hierarchy of Sri Lanka Cricket in the run-up to an election last year, will receive as much as Rs.60 million from their one-time adversary.
The money, according to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), will be used for the construction of a new club house and pavilion with Rs.40 million already paid and a balance Rs 20 million approved by its Executive Committee.
Colts Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country with a history of over a century having produced several players who wore the Sri Lanka Test cap in the 1980s when the island was elevated to Test status.
Sri Lanka Cricket said the money is an “outright grant” and has also decided to increase its annual payments to nine major clubs. The payments, SLC said, is aimed at helping clubs to maintain and enhance their grounds and infrastructure.
The new dole outs will mean that the grants given to what are called “Major Clubs” will amount to a full annual payment of Rs, 27.5 million for each club to compete in the annual inter club season.
The increase, SLC also said, was made taking into consideration the current economic climate in the country and its total investment amounts to a total of LKR 715 million as tournament grants for the Major Clubs during the year.
Last week SLC said it was pumping in Rs.718 million towards the country’s ailing health sector