Constructors deny plan to disrupt Dambulla games
Rex Clementine - 21 July 2001
Sierra Constructors, the building company responsible for the
development of the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, have told
the Sri Lankan Minister of Sports that they had no intention to
disrupt the three games played at Dambulla next week.
The Sports Ministry decided to shift the three matches of the Coca
Cola Cup in Dambulla on Wednesday. A media release explained: "The
Ministry has reliable information that certain interested parties are
contemplating legal action and seeking temporary orders to stop the
playing of matches at Dambulla."
Sierra have not yet been fully paid for the work carried out on the
stadium and will not be paid until the completion of an investigation
into alleged malpractices by the previous cricket board, which was
dissolved in March 2001.
The decision not to pay the constructors, forced upon the present
Interim Committee by the Attorney General, fueled speculation that
Sierra may try to disrupt the three matches in Dambulla by taking
action in the courts early next week.
Sierra deny this, saying in a formal statement that: "We hereby give a
public commitment that none of us would resort to such an unpatriotic
action to prevent the playing of cricket matches at the very stadium,
which we sweated and toiled to construct and create in about 165 days
and which stadium we are all proud of and cherish."
Next week's Dambulla games have now been shifted to Premadasa
International Stadium. Further changes to the schedule are unlikely
unless the highest political authorities in the country become
embroiled in the controversy again.
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