21 May 2020 05:00 pm
The proposed new International Cricket Stadium project in Homagama has been suspended, the Prime Minister's Media Division said today.
The decision has been made following a meeting held between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and several Senior Cricketers this morning.
The Senior Cricketers have suggested to upgrade school cricket facilities instead and to improve cricket as a sport at the national level.
Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, Roshan Mahanama and Lasith Malinga were present at the meeting. The project met with heavy criticism by many and several cricketers also raised concerns about the project. Former Cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena earlier this week tweeted, "We don’t even play enough international cricket or domestic first class cricket in the existing stadiums we have..Do we need another one?,” Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket in a statement on Monday said the 'project will be an absolute and private investment of SLC and no government funds will be utilized and/or will be sought at any stage of the construction.' (Lahiru Pothmulla)