Running on empty, Sri Lanka opens arms to Australian team | ChrisBarrett_
Sitting in his office behind the Sinhalese Sports Club ground - the Lord’s of Sri Lanka -Mohan De Silva has the television over his desk tuned to the ABC’s overseas service. On this day, it reports that Anthony Albanese and Labor have just secured a majority in Australia’s lower house.
The scenes are the same around Sri Lanka, which has also been plagued by long blackouts and where a serious food crisis has emerged as prices have soared and the production of rice has fallen.the Australian team arrived in Colombo this week for their first tour here since 2016, a six-week jaunt taking in Twenty20 and one-day international series and a two-Test contest in Galle.
Australian apprehension was also assuaged by the knowledge their visit was not just topping up cricket coffers, with Sri Lanka Cricket announcing last week that it would donate $3.5m to hospitals to help them acquire essential medicines.Credit:Australia are in the country three weeks after a day of violence in which nine people were killed and dozens of MPs’ houses were torched in retaliation for an attack by on anti-government demonstrators by loyalists of the ruling Rajapaksa family.
“Because of the fuel problem we had a discussion with Cricket Australia and were trying to persuade them to start with the two Tests because the two Tests matches don’t need any [lights],” he said. The lighting for the games will not tap into the under-strain electricity grid, though, according to De Silva. Instead, generators from the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board have been hired, he said. While they run on fuel which could be used elsewhere, there stood to be a financial blow on television rights fees if night matches were changed to the daytime and not shown in prime time in India.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Brandis in London as Australian High Commissioner post sits emptyThe former high commissioner’s presence as an invited guest at Jubilee celebrations has highlighted an embarrassing diplomatic misstep by Australia.
Read more »
ASX LIVE: Australian shares set to fall; Wall Street dips; BHP rating cut; ASX new CEO; $A steady above US71c; Wesfarmers lithium focus; trade data ahead; oil and gas up.Australian shares set to fall; Wall Street dips; BHP rating cut; ASX new CEO; $A steady above US71c; Wesfarmers lithium focus; trade data ahead; oil and gas up.
Read more »
'That concerns me': Detained Australian-Chinese journalist's partner breaks silenceThe boyfriend of Australian-Chinese journalist Cheng Lei has opened up in an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia about her declining health and the moment he discovered she vanished.
Read more »
Empty nesters asked to spare their bedrooms as critical housing shortage rages in tropical paradiseAnyone with an extra room, granny flat or land for a tent or van is asked to get on board tourism authorities' new Adopt a Worker campaign.
Read more »
Moeen Ali: ‘Would I be available for the Test team? The door is open’Worcestershire all-rounder reflects on his OBE for services to cricket and hints at a possible Test comeback with England
Read more »
Why the Nats dumped Barnaby Joyce - ABCYour home of Australian stories, conversations and events that shape our nation.
Read more »