Sports and Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge will try to resolve the stalemate that has erupted between the players and the SLC over the hastily sewn up England Tour by its Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga.

Speaking to The Sunday Times on the subject Lokuge said “The situation that has erupted between the players and the SLC over the IPL issue and England tour has hit a snag and it is a matter that has to be resolved as soon as possible because it is a stand between Sri Lanka’s tour of England. Anyway I have called the cricketers for a meeting on the 30th of this month. When I meet them I will try to bring about a solution”.

Earlier former Sri Lanka cricket captain and the present Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, Arjuna Ranatunga stuck a deal with England to patch up their void created by the cancelling of Zimbabwe’s tour of that country. However, the Lankan players were up in arms in the matter as this tour clearly intervened with their IPL commitments -- something that they had already committed much earlier.

As a result the Sri Lanka tour of England early next summer is in the balance. If the tour is not a reality SLC will lose around $ two million.

- SRP