COPE questions SLC officials on handing over of cricket pitch rollers to clubs

• Committee members raise concerns that gifting of rollers ahead of SLC election 
• Construction of sports complex at Polonnaruwa without Archaeology Dept. approval also queried 

Questions were raised at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday regarding some of the activities undertaken by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) including the expenditure of Rs. 60 million to purchase cricket pitch rollers to be handed over to various clubs ahead of a SLC election.

Several COPE members voiced suspicion that the rollers were gifted to various clubs close to the SLC election and could have been used to influence clubs to vote in favour of certain candidates.

SLC officials appeared before the committee yesterday, the second time since February.

Other issues that came up at the meeting included the construction of a sports complex and spectator stands for a cricket ground in Polonnaruwa without the approval of the Department of Archaeology. The project cost had been over Rs. 130 million.

The Committee also heard that $ 187,000 that was to be received from sponsors for a South African tour in 2018 has not been collected to date. 

When SLC officials were summoned before COPE on 11 February, the meeting was suspended by its Chairman Charitha Herath due to the unpreparedness of the officials to answer the queries raised by committee members.