'Sri Lanka bid was very strong'

Shirajiv SIRIMANE in St Kitts

Gold Coast has won the rights to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games - and the $ 1.1 billion debt that comes with it - with a victory over Hambantota.

"It's been a very very close vote and there's a good chance we were going to make it. We had seven rehearsals, we've had 15 meetings, we've lobbied everybody, there hasn't been much sleep," the Gold Coast Premier Anna Bligh said immediately after the announcement.

The Prime Minister said that Sri Lanka has the capacity to host prestigious events such as the Commonwealth Games in the future. "Sri Lanka should bid for 2022," she said. Answering a question from Daily News Business she said that the Sri Lanka bid was very strong and it definitely robbed them eight of their votes. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation voted 43 to 27 in favour of Queensland's premier tourist destination.