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SPECTACULAR:
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa when
completed will look....
Chris DHAMBARAGE
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota is
set to become one of the most spectacular stadiums in World cricket when
it hosts two ICC World Cup matches in February next year.
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Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa (right)
and Sri Lanka cricketer and Matara District Parliamentarian
Sanath Jayasuriya walking to the middle for a batting
session. |
The stadium situated in Sooriyawewa of course will be baptized as an
international ground when the West Indies play two back to back limited
over matches against Sri Lanka next month.
The construction work is currently taking place ahead of schedule and
the stadium will be fully completed by the end of November and the
floodlights will be installed by November 15.
Floodlights
In fact the floodlights will be the main attraction of the stadium
and once the work is totally completed it is expected to resemble a
pearl shaped object.
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Construction work in the Grandstand in progress at the
picturesque Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium |
This will be Sri Lanka’s third floodlit International Cricket Stadium
when the West Indies play hosts in the first one day international on
December 9 with the second one day international also scheduled for the
same venue on December 11.
In addition the Stadium will host two World Cup matches on February
20, between Sri Lanka and Canada followed by the second game between
Kenya and Pakistan on February 23.
Incidentally this is the second international cricket stadium in the
dry zone apart from the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
However unlike Dambulla there are many things to offer in and around the
Hambantota area.
Wild life
The spectators will have the opportunity of making use of the
eco-friendly surroundings and there are a few wild life sanctuaries
located very close by as well as religious places of interest.
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Sports Minister C. B. Ratnayake planting a tree under the
‘Clean and Green’ campaign at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium.
Also in the picture are Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa,
Dilan Perera and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal
Rajapaksa |
The other significant fact is that it is just 70 kilo metres to reach
Nuwara Eliya from Sooriyawewa. There are already indications that very
soon this will be a highly developed area and would become an ideal
tourist destination for both locals and foreigners.
This cricket stadium is situated in the area of Meegahajandura off
Sooriyawewa, approximately eight kilo metres from the emerging
commercial hub of Hambantota.
Major projects
The cricket stadium is considered as one of the major projects in the
Hambantota area where several other developments are also initiated by
the present government.
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Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa in
conversation with some of the schoolboy cricketers in the
area. |
A number of new roads have already come up around the cricket stadium
and the location is expected to draw a large number of crowds from here
and overseas.
With the construction of the stadium a number of roads have been
upgraded to boost up the current transportation system. The existing
roads have been expanded as a four lane highway and a ring road will be
constructed around the ground which will have access from three points.
Development
Among the other major development projects is the International
Airport which is situated only 11 kilo metres away from the
international cricket stadium.
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Construction work in progress at the Grandstand |
This stadium will also provide a great opportunity for 18 cricket
playing schools in the Hambantota area where the cricketers have not had
the privilege to play on turf wickets. The ground will no doubt be very
helpful for the promising young cricketers in the area to reach
international standards.
The present location of the stadium is situated on a 47-acre land and
it could accessible from three major towns in the area covering the Uva,
Sabaragamuwa and the Southern Province.
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A side view of the press box at the Stadium |
The stadium is expected to fulfill the International Cricket Council
requirement of holding at least 30,000 spectators. The stadium will hold
three mega scoreboards which will be elevated above the spectator
stands.
The main idea of having all scoreboards above the stands is to
accommodate the maximum number of spectators.
Grandstand
The grandstand alone will hold 8,000 spectators while a total of
20,000 permanent seats will be fixed while the standing pavilions will
have the capacity to hold 15,000 spectators.
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A view of the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket
Stadium |
The stadium will have an ample supply of water with three main
resources around the site. The closely situated Meegahajandura Lake,
three high capacity tube wells and an agricultural well will provide the
stadium’s water requirements.
In addition a separate line by the Water Board of Sri Lanka will be
provided for consumption purposes.
Sooriyawewa was one of the best locations Sri Lanka could provide in
building up an international cricket venue. With the area being
developed to be a commercial centre in the southern part of Sri Lanka,
Sooriyawewa has much to offer the visiting cricket fans from around the
world. |
