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By Dinesh Weerawansa

Sahara Sports yesterday finalised and signed their contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (Interim Council) to develop the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on a Rs. 600 million venture as a Board of Investment (BOI) project. The deal was made possible following arrangements made by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports under the direction of Minister Johnston Fernando.

The new 600 million-rupee project to develop Pallekele Stadium to a top class international cricket venue will be the biggest ever BOI investment project signed since the new United National Front came into power last December. It will also be the largest ever investment made in the Sri Lanka sports history.

"It is a victory for Sri Lanka sports. Following the peace initiative by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe earlier this year, investors have kept faith in investing in Sri Lanka. But for Sahara Sports to come in to such a big investment on sports here in an encouraging sign and is an indication how much the international community have kept faith on our peace process," Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

Minister Fernando said Sahara Sports, under the agreement, will start development of Pallekele Stadium before the end of this year. "They will start construction work within the next few months and are expected to complete in 12 months. The venue would be ready to host its first ever international cricket match by 2004," he said. Minister Fernando said the new stadium would be a blessing for both cricketers and cricket loving public in the hill capital as well as those who in North Western and North Central provinces.

After an inspection by ICC representatives, the venue is expected to obtain approval of the world cricket governing body by 2004 to host Sri Lanka's International triangular series. The proposed one day international triangular series at Pallekele International Stadium in 2004 is expected to feature South Africa and India, along with the hosts Sri Lanka. Sahara Sports will promote Pallekele as one of the leading one day international cricket grounds in Sri Lanka like Sharjah, UAE and Tangiers, Morocco. The venue would provide the latest facilities of international class to both cricketers and spectators and should turn out to be a favourite venue with its beautiful surroundings. The organisers plan to host one day international tournaments at this venue on a regular basis from 2004 with the blessings of the ICC.

The Pallekele International Stadium was the brainchild of former Minister of Sports & Tourism and present Minister of Plantations, Lakshman Kiriella. He initiated it when he was the Sports Minister last year. Taking over the Sports Ministry from Minister Kiriella, his successor Minister Fernando has made arrangements to do it even style with much needed foreign investment.

When completed, Pallakele International Stadium will become one of the top cricket venues in the world.

This is the second lucrative investment on a cricket ground in Sri Lanka after the BCCSL developed Dambulla International Stadium at a cost of around Rs. 450 million. Pallakele will be only the second international cricket venue in Sri Lanka's Central Province after Asgiriya International Stadium, which is owned by Trinity College, Kandy.

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