Tug o’ war over Rs. 250 m school cricket fund
The Education Ministry has expressed its displeasure at the Finance Ministry over an allocation of Rs 250 million to the Sports Ministry to implement a project called “School Cricket Promotion in 1,000 Outstation Schools”, instead of giving the money to the Education Ministry.
The allocation was made in the last Budget presented by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
The Education Ministry’s Sports Consultant Sunil Jayaweera said, “This money should have come under the purview of the Education Ministry. Even Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam requested the Sports Ministry to transfer the money, but it has not responded to it in a positive manner.”
“It is we who know about schools and it is through us the project should be mooted, but the Sports Ministry has flatly refused to heed our request.
“We are aware that the Sports Ministry is going ahead with a project involving schools, but we are not sure what it is.
“However, we are aware the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) was requested to get involved in that programme and, as it was for the benefit of schoolchildren, we gave them our blessings to get involved, but we are not aware of the outcome.”
When inquired by the Sunday Times, SLSCA Secretary Kapila Jayalath said they got involved in the programme about four months ago with the idea of introducing the game in 1,000 schools.”
However, SLSCA sources said they have pointed out that only about 400 schools that really need help, and they are providing cricket equipment to those schools. The equipment includes matting, bats, balls, pads and gloves.
When inquired from the Sports Ministry’s Additional Secretary, Somaratne Vidanapathirana, he said “Work is in progress with construction, procurement and training going on.”
However, when asked if they are working along with the Education Ministry on this project, Vidanapathirana said, “No, we are not working with the Education Ministry. We have joined hands with Sri Lanka Cricket for this programme, and we are working with them.”
When asked about this development from Sunil Jayaweera, he said, “We are talking about schoolchildren and school cricket. Both these come under the purview of the Education Ministry. How can the Sports Ministry moot a programme with SLC or any other private institution that has a programme that involves schoolchildren? It is unethical. At the same time, we can protest and take action against them but, as it is for the development of Sports Education, we will keep a tab on what’s going on. We can understand the SLSCA getting involved but, we are aware they too are not fully involved with the programme. This is an unacceptable situation and we will watch it, as it involves schoolchildren.”