Rs. 69 million spent on Chartered flight to ensure player safety – Prof. Arjuna De Silva

Sri Lanka tour of England 2021

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Professor Arjuna De Silva, the chairman of SLC medical committee, revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket spent over Rs. 69 million to send the national team to England on a chartered flight.  

Speaking to Ada Derana, Prof. De Silva said that the cricket board spent such a huge amount of money to send the Sri Lanka cricket team on a chartered flight to England in order to ensure the safety of players. 

“The players were sent to England on a chartered flight, spending over Rs. 69 million, considering their safety. The team was also vaccinated on priority, even before the Indian team was vaccinated” he said. 

Read: Mendis, Dickwella and Gunathilake suspended from all forms of cricket

Prof. De Silva also mentioned that the players were allowed to go out of the hotel but were strictly prohibited from going into the city center area. 

“They were not restricted to their rooms but had the option of going out of their rooms just outside their hotel when nobody was around, during the day. However, they were clearly and strictly advised not to go to the city,” De Silva said. 

The professor also went onto say that he felt angry and sad about the behavior of the suspended players during England tour. 

Read: Sri Lanka incident a reminder to stay focused on Covid restriction – Mark Wood

“I don’t usually criticize players. But on this occasion, I felt really angry and sad about the behavior of the players,” he went onto say.

Sri Lankan batsmen Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis are currently quarantining in Negombo after being recalled from England due to a suspension handed out by Sri Lanka cricket following a bio-bubble breach on Sunday (27th June) at Durham.