Sri Lanka Cricket to donate proceeds from Australia series for "benefit of the people"

Sri Lanka are hosting Australia for 52 days, with the two sides contesting three T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests throughout June and July

Sri Lanka Cricket will donate the proceeds from Australia’s tour of the country for the "benefit of the people", according to SLC secretary Mohan de Silva.

Around $2.5million (£2million) is expected to be donated.

Sri Lanka are hosting Australia for 52 days throughout June and July, with the two sides contesting three T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches. The white-ball fixtures will be split between Colombo and Kandy while Galle will host both Tests.

An Australia A side will also play two one-day matches and two first-class matches against Sri Lanka A, with matches taking place in Colombo and Hambantota.

^{Australia arrived in Sri Lanka at the start of June [Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images]}

Sri Lanka is currently in the grips of an economic crisis, with a lack of foreign currency preventing the purchasing of vital imports and food and fuel prices soaring as a result.

In May, SLC donated $2million (£1.6million) to support hospitals in the country as they struggle to source drugs and equipment.

"While welcoming the Australians, I am proud to say that the Australian tour is very important to the country not only on the cricket front, but also economically in view of the foreign exchange revenue accruing to the country during this critical juncture of the economy as SLC has unanimously decided to donate all the proceeds for the benefit of the people," said de Silva.

"It has been a magnanimous gesture by Cricket Australia of which we are very appreciative and grateful. It is particularly an example to other major cricket playing countries that have been shying from sending teams here.

"In that vein the great gesture by Cricket Australia and its players touring Sri Lanka at such a critical economic juncture is a victory not only for SLC, but the country as a whole."

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