AusLeisure

Less than a week after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced plans for a 40,000-seat cricket stadium in Colombo, the nation’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has scrapped the proposal following widespread opposition.

Revealed earlier this week, the plan for what would have been the country’s largest cricket stadium was announced for the Homagama district of Colombo.

The first phase was set to see the development of a 40,000-capacity ground as Colombo’s second floodlit facility after R. Premadasa Stadium. The second phase would have expanded the ground to a capacity of 60,000.

With backing from the Sri Lankan Government, the venue was expected to be completed within three years at a cost of US$30 million.

At the time, SLC said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has called for governing bodies interested in bidding for its major events from 2023 to 2031 to have at least five “international level cricket stadiums” with a seating capacity of around 25,000 to 40,000.

SLC had also stressed that Homagama International Cricket Stadium would be an “absolute and private investment” of Sri Lanka Cricket, with no government funds utilised or sought at any stage of the construction.

However, the plans provoked criticism in Sri Lanka with many questioning the wisdom of a major stadium development given the country’s financial situation and having to cope with the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Several legends of Sri Lankan cricket had also voiced their disapproval, with the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga and Sanath Jayasuriya all said to have been present at a high-level government meeting yesterday.

Following this meeting, the AFP news agency reported a statement from the office of Prime Minister Rajapaksa that advised “it was decided at a meeting with former top players today that instead of the proposed Homagama stadium it was better to spend money on building school cricket.”

The proposal had been a surprise as Homagama already boasts the R Premadasa Stadium, currently the largest stadium in Sri Lanka.

SLC had suggested that a new stadium was needed if it were to host future ICC events, but the nation did host both the men's and women's T20 World Cups in 2012 using three stadiums - one of which is named after the current Prime Minister.

It also emerged that a feasibility study on a new cricket venue in Jaffna - announced by SLC in 2017 - has still not been completed.

Related Articles

9th April 2020 - Coronavirus pandemic halts Pakistani cricket

7th April 2020 - Coronavirus shutdown set to see cancellation of 2020 Indian Premier League

5th April 2020 - Pakistan Cricket Board wants to host International Cricket Council event to cover losses

12th February 2020 - US President Trump to attend inauguration of world’s largest cricket stadium during upcoming Indian visit

22nd December 2019 - ICC continues partnership with UNICEF for Women’s T20 World Cup 2020

15th November 2019 - Pakistan to again host Test cricket after 10 year gap

10th September 2019 - New report highlights the impact of climate change on cricket

2nd September 2019 - ICC T20 World Cup 2020 launches national schools program

27th January 2018 - Sri Lankan women take on gym’s ‘body shaming’ ad

25th October 2017 - Cantaloupe Hotels Group looks to develop Sri Lankan surf tourism

26th July 2015 - Indian Premier League brand value dips following team bans

26th December 2014 - Sri Lanka drowning report launch coincides with 10 year anniversary of Asian Tsunami

14th April 2011 - Sri Lanka faces deficit after Cricket World Cup

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.