Thanks to ‘Tharunyata Hetak’:
World Cup Cricket will come to Hambantota
Dinesh WEERAWANSA
World Cup Cricket will come to Hambantota in 2011 The ‘Tharunyata
Hetak’ movement which has given a new dimension for youth in Sri Lanka,
has taken the initiative of constructing an ultra modern international
cricket stadium in Hambantota.
President of the ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ and former Sri Lanka Under-19
rugby captain Namal Rajapaksa disclosed this when he laid the foundation
stone for a new swimming pool project at the Giggles International
School, Gothatuwa New Town yesterday.
Addressing a well-attended gathering at the Giggles International
School, the former Thomian rugby captain said the new Hambantota
International Cricket Stadium would host the 2011 ICC World Cup
tournament. He added that the construction of the 30,000-seat flood-lit
stadium would be completed by 2010.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has already given its blessings for the
‘Tharunyata Hetak’ movement to go ahead with the International Stadium
project and has already assured them that the SLC would offer a
semi-final match of the 2011 World Cup tournament to Sri Lanka’s newest
international cricket stadium.
Initial feasibility studies have already been done and the
construction work would begin soon.
It would be constructed though an investor who would sign an
agreement with the ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ movement for the new venture on a
BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis.
The proposed International Cricket Stadium will be built to
international standards, meeting all necessary ICC requirements. It will
also have facilities to host day night matches with an ultra modern
flood lighting system.
Once the construction work is completed by 2010, the new Hambantota
International Cricket Stadium would host several domestic and
international cricket matches before it would be blessed with a semi
final match of the 2011 ICC World Cup tournament for which Sri Lanka is
a co-host with other ICC full members in the subcontinent.
The proposed Hambantota International Cricket Stadium will be a big
boost for the promotion of the game in the outstation and would also
enable Sri Lanka to host foreign teams during the rainy season in the
Western Province.
Sri Lanka’s only international cricket stadium in the dry zone - the
Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, has been a blessing for
Sri Lanka Cricket whenever international matches scheduled in Colombo
are threatened by bad weather.
Hence, the world’s newest cricketing destination would enable Sri
Lanka to host international matches during any period of the year.
The ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ movement has gone from strength to strength
during its short 30-month history and even extended their solidarity the
youth in the Northern Province with a swimming pool project at the
Jaffna University recently.
Chief guest at yesterday’s function, Rajapaksa has been a versatile
rugby player during his school career at S.Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
and captained his alma mater and Sri Lanka Under-19 teams with
distinction.
He wished the Giggles International School all success in their
sports endeavours and said the new swimming pool project would be a big
boon not only to the students but all youth in the area.
Principal of the Giggles International School, Thushari Koralage said
their wish to encourage students is both co-curricular and extra
curricular activities and to be an international school with all sports
facilities at one place by 2012. |