Jaffna enters international cricket

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake unveils a monument to herald the construction of an international cricket stadium in Jaffna as Sports Minister Sunil Gamage looks on after laying the foundation stone yesterday 

By M. Shamil Amit

The foundation stone for what would become the latest international cricket venue, the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium (JICS) was laid yesterday by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Mandaitivu.
When complete the venue will be Sri Lanka’s eighth cricket location and the fifth since the country was elevated to Test status after the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo (1985), the Dambulla International Stadium (2001), the Pallekele Cricket Stadium (2009) and the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota (2012)
With big plans drawn up the JICS will be the cricket fifth stadium in the country to be equipped with floodlights. 
The construction of the Jaffna stadium is part of the continuation of Sri Lanka’s Cricket’s vision to add new international venues since former SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala started the concept in Dambulla that has now snowballed to a Sports City in Jaffna on 138 acres of land.
The completion of the Sports City will include a swimming pool, multi-parlour sports indoor arena, star class hotels and restaurants plus a shopping mall and entertainment facilities.
The mission is to build the international stadium across 48 acres that includes ten center wickets with a boundary distance of up to 80 meters to fall in line with international standards.
The spectator capacity planned when completed will be 40,000 and the landmark project highlights a significant step in promoting cricket development in Sri Lanka’s northern province and positioning it as a premier cricket destination in the region.
The project is said to be solely funded by Sri Lanka Cricket providing equal opportunities for talented cricketers across the island who seek to represent the national team.