Sri Lanka stars finally paid

Colombo - Sri Lanka Cricket said on Friday it had paid all outstanding dues to its players, ending a period of uncertainty for the cash-strapped governing body and the nation's cricketers.

The players had only been paid partially since the 2011 Cricket World Cup after the cricket board ran up debts of $69 million due to the development of new infrastructure for the showpiece tournament.

Sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage last month asked the state-run Bank of Ceylon to release 600 million rupees ($5 million) to the SLC to tide over the crisis.

"Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to inform the public and the media that our national players have been paid all their dues in full upto date," SLC said in a statement on Friday.

It did not say how much was owed to the cricketers.

The SLC also thanked the sports minister "for assisting Sri Lanka Cricket to source these funds at this very difficult time in order to pay our players."

The national team, led by Mahela Jayawardene, is currently in Bangladesh participating in the four-nation Asia Cup one-day tournament.

Sri Lanka are due to begin a two-Test home series against England from March 26.