Government offers Sri Lanka almost $1 million to win World Cup

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's squad will receive a bonus of almost $1 million (0.66 million pounds) from the Government if they win the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that starts next week.

Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said on Thursday that the new cabinet had agreed to pay 130 million rupees ($983,359) to the players if they lift the trophy.

The island nation won the World Cup in 1996 and finished runners-up at the last two editions.

Sri Lanka have been drawn in Pool A alongside the two co-hosts, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland.

They lost the finals in 2007 and 2011 to Australia and India respectively.

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez, editing by Tony Jimenez)