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Sports Minister pledges to resign if allegations of misconduct against Sri Lankan T20 World Cup cricket team are proven
Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs Harin Fernando, stated that he will resign from his ministerial position if allegations of indiscipline within the Sri Lankan cricket team, during its participation at the 2024 T20 World Cup, are proven. “Allegations of misconduct have surfaced against Sri Lankan players during this year’s T20 World Cup, and I am prepared to resign from my ministerial post if these accusations are proven” he reiterated.
He made this challenge while joining the press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday (24) under the theme “Collective Path to a stable country”.
The Minister said that the new Sports Act is set to be presented for Cabinet approval. He said that efforts have been on-going to depoliticize sports and the new Sports Act even bars local Councillors from holding office in sports associations. He added that Sri Lanka boasts 73 different sports, and the new legislation will encompass all of them, including cricket.
He added that the Lanka Premier League [LPL] Cricket Tournament is overseen by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and that the ministry does not interfere in its affairs. He also said that there are plans to secure funding from the ICC to construct an additional stadium capable of hosting day-night matches, which would enable Sri Lanka to host International Cricket tournament like the World Cup on its own as it is a requirement that a country should have at least five international-standard stadiums capable of day-night matches.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s significant investment in athletes’ welfare, noting that 60 athletes who have achieved international recognition receive a monthly allowance of Rs.50,000 while an additional 850 athletes receive an allowance of Rs.10,000 per month. He also announced that arrangements have been made to insure school rugby players.
He said that attention has also been directed towards transferring the ownership of the Khettarama Stadium to Sri Lanka Cricket [SLC] and utilize the funds received to renovate the Sugathadasa Stadium. and added that there were plans to enact legislation in the future to bring all sports complexes across the island under the management of the Sugathadasa.Stadium.
The Paddy Marketing Board has approximately 115,000 metric tonnes of paddy stocks purchased from farmers, which are currently stored in the Board’s warehouses, and it has been planned to retain a sufficient buffer stock from these reserves and sell the remaining quantity in order to provide the necessary storage space and financial resources for the purchase of paddy from farmers during the upcoming Yala season.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to sell the aforementioned paddy stocks
following a formal tender procedure.
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Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to appoint Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, an officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in the Special Grade who is currently serving as an Additional Director General of the Department of Management Services, to the post of Director General of the Department of Management Services with immediate effect.
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Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
With the objective of improving the productivity of paddy cultivation, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the agricultural sector was entered into on 2025-05-05 between the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Under the afore Memorandum of Understanding, both parties have agreed to implement a project titled “Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources and Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties through Hybridization between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.”
The activities proposed to be carried out under the said project include the exchange of germplasm materials of rice varieties between the two countries, the conduct of joint breeding and hybridization programmes, the evaluation and selection of advanced breeding lines under local conditions, the establishment of field trials, the training of research officers, and the exchange of knowledge.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for the implementation of the proposed project
Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
Amendment to the Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 to be gazatted
Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
Cabinet approves collaboration agreement between Sri Lanka and Brazil for the implementation of the “Sugarcane Project in Sri Lanka”
Cabinet approval for Implementation of a Project for the Joint Exchange of Genetic Resources between Sri Lanka and Vietnam and the Development of High-Yielding and Salinity-resilient Rice Varieties.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till1600 hrs on Wednesday [27]
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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