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Lankan government to bail out cricket board

The Sri Lankan sports ministry has decided to dole out funds to cover the expenses for the national World Cup squad and administrative work of the cricket board.

The funds would later be reimbursed by the board.

Sports minister S B Dissanayake plans to release the money from the national sports fund following a request from the board's chief executive Dhammika Ranatunga, who had also requested the ministry to let him know how he should carry out the duties of the board.

The board finds itself in a financial crunch following an enjoining order that restrains the newly elected cricket board from functioning following an application by Clifford Ratwatee, who unsuccessfully contested for the board presidency against Thilanga Sumathipala, challenging the mode of election of the present office bearers at an annual general meeting held on March 28.

Meanwhile the Colombo district court has extended the enjoining order till April 26 .

Authoritative sources meanwhile said the in-force enjoining order on the board will not stand in the way of Sri Lanka's participation in the World Cup as the tournament organisers will officially accept the 12 competing nations on May three.