The government had spent Rs. 413 million as administrative expenditure of seven cricket grounds during the past five years, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament yesterday.
The cricket grounds were R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Galle International Cricket Stadium, Welagedara Cricket Stadium, Surrey Cricket Ground, and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
Minister Aluthgamage responding to a question raised by UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake said that in addition to this sum, another Rs. 7054 million have been spent for these stadiums as capital expenditure.
These stadia had received an income of Rs. 765 million during the same period, the minister said.
Asked as to why these stadia had been unable to earn more than what had been spent on them, the minister said that cricket grounds were not financial institutes making money but they rather depend on welfare provision from the government.
