Premadasa Stadium, a three-wheel stand doubles as a ticket office for the current World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket has insisted that the tickets are sold out for all parties, however, the tuk-tuk drivers are selling an unlimited number of notes of 50 rupees at an inflated price. The Sunday Leader ticket investigated by the three-wheel drivers in Maligawatta.
We stopped at a set of three wheels and asked where they could buy tickets to the quarter-final between Sri Lanka and England held yesterday. After some hesitation in which appeared the pilots were "watching us" Sarath, (a tuk driver) admitted that we could get tickets for the match. He said that tickets will give us entry into the Rs. 50 stands and would cost R. 2.500 per ticket. When asked in the seat that he was told he had only small bills "C" which is the site of the foot.
Saying he wanted to buy a ticket Sarath told us to wait 10 minutes while she went to collect the ticket. Before he left he could follow in his tuk-tuk. Leaving us standing on the side of the road. During our wait speaking to other drivers who explained that they had stood in line four hours to buy tickets. They added that many people could not buy tickets in a few hours just after the opening of ticket sales, the authorities of Sri Lanka Cricket announced that tickets were sold out. The pilots thought they were doing a service by selling illegal tickets. To get a massive benefit. In each of Rs. 50 bills that were making a profit of Rs. 2450. Assuming that sold a thousand tickets have brought a profit of over Rs. 2 million.
Meanwhile, Sarath returned with our tickets and told me to follow him down a narrow alley. It was here that completed the transaction, giving me the ticket, while the collection of Rs. 2500. All the while looking over his shoulder to make sure it had not followed or taken a photo. When asked where he got the tickets, Sarath said only that he had waited in line and bought them.
He, along with his colleagues seemed to have in hand an unlimited number of tickets on sale.
The Sunday Leader returned the next day. This time, we find that tickets worth Rs. 500 for Block 'A', is, also were being sold by the three-wheel drivers. Approaching a separate three-wheel stand asked if I had tickets for sale. A driver presented on this occasion as Sajan, explained that they had Rs. 500 tickets available and are sold at Rs. 3000. When told he wanted to buy 20 tickets that I was asked to return at 2 pm to collect the tickets. When asked how he was able to get these tickets, explained that he bought in November. When asked if he was limited to the purchase of only four innings, said he went with some friends and buy tickets together. There were dozens of people in power.
And as the fans desperately tried desperately through any means to buy tickets to see their heroes in the game resorted to buying on the black market. Brisk sales Maligawatte abounded as ticket prices vary from Rs.1, 500 to Rs.9, 000 depending on the sidelines.
Sugath Senanayake, a bank employee, told The Sunday Leader, which had bought three tickets originally priced at Rs. Rs 500. 4.000 each. He explained that when he tried to buy tickets in December had said they were exhausted. He said he had tried then to buy Rs. 50 tickets that had been released a week before the game. Again he was told that were sold. "I tried twice but was unsuccessful despite trying well in advance," said a frustrated Sugath adding, "I offered these tickets and opted to buy them."
When asked where he got the tickets from said that they were sold to him by a colleague that he had purchased with every intention to re-sell at black market that was never interested in attending the game.
Rehan Samarasinghe, a local student, explained that he lost the tickets for the last quarter, as it had not been duly announced that tickets had gone on sale for the match. "I did not know that the tickets were sold until a friend asked if I had I have mine, but when I went to the Cricket Board said they sold me. You can not blame people for buying tickets in black market is the only way to get them. "When asked if he knew where I could buy said that the three-wheel drivers are local suppliers.
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