SLC offers Hambantota groundstaff cash, clothes after uniform fiasco – Cricbuzz

SLC UNIFORM FIASCO

Cricbuzz StaffLast updated on Thu, 13 Jul, 2017, 02:35 PM

Many of groundstaff were reported to have been paid only after the trousers were returned following the completion of the 5th ODI between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, leaving them stripped down to their underwear. Getty

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday offered cash and new clothes to temporary groundsmen, who were forced to handover their uniforms after the fifth One-Day International between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The groundsman at Hambantota's MRI Cricket Stadium, who were daily wage workers of the region, were given uniforms to wear during the match. This practice of giving uniforms to the local workers, who are called in to put covers on the entire ground in case of a rain was started recently. But on Monday (July 10), they were asked to return their clothes before leaving the venue. Many of them were reported to have been paid only after the trousers were returned, leaving them stripped down to their underwear.

One of the groundsman, who was stripped off his trousers, told Hiru News, "They only paid us for our three days worth of work after taking our clothes."

Another one added: "They hadn't told us to come prepared with another set of clothes. They asked us to hand over the trousers, so we had no choice but to do that."

In the aftermath of the incident, SLC formally apologised to "those subjected to this ignominy".

"That was a very low thing that happened," Thilanga Sumathipala, SLC president, said. "These people come to the ground because of their love of cricket, and to do a service while watching the match. They aren't just there for the money. If rains come, they close up the whole ground within minutes, and then take the covers off again.

"They are our colleagues, not our slaves. The board didn't know anything about this. We had sent that clothing out to our provincial associations, but hadn't taken a decision to get that clothing back.

"The way they were treated is unacceptable and I have ordered that they be given a new set of clothes plus an extra day's wages. It is inhuman and slavery."

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SLC offers Hambantota groundstaff cash, clothes after uniform fiasco - Cricbuzz