Constructors deny plan to disrupt Dambulla games

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.