Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa says that Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry and the Covid-19 Task Force have given the ‘green light’ to go ahead with the Lanka Premier League (LPL), the Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament scheduled to commence this month.

In a Twitter post confirming this, the Sports Minister thanked the President and Prime Minister while also stating that this is indicatory of the government’s commitment to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and return the country to normalcy while adhering to health guidelines. 

“Ministry of Health - Sri Lanka & COVID task force have given the green-light to go ahead with #LPL2020 Sri Lanka Cricket.” 

“Thankful to HE Gotabaya Rajapaksa & Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa. This is indicatory of the govts commitment to adapt to #NewNormal & return the country to normalcy whilst adhering to MoH guidelines,” he tweeted.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board officials, including the president Shammi Silva, and the LPL tournament director Ravin Wickeramratne reportedly met the president on Thursday morning.

The meeting was also attended by the health ministry officials and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa.

The Health Ministry is now expected to issue further guidelines especially with regard to the players coming from overseas to participate in the tournament.

The Lanka Premier League is scheduled to be played from November 21 to December 13, 2020, at two venues -- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.

Teams will compete in 23 matches over a 15-day period for the title.

.@MoH_SriLanka & #COVID task force have given the green-light to go ahead with #LPL2020 @OfficialSLC.Thankful to HE @GotabayaR & Hon. @PresRajapaksa.This is indicatory of the govts commitment to adapt to #NewNormal &return the country to normalcy whilst adhering to MoH guidelines

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) November 5, 2020