From out of nothing
A cricket ground built to boost development in a backward region in Sri Lanka
03-Nov-2010
The Hambantota stadium was first used for the 2011 World Cup • Getty Images
Hambantota is a largely rural district along the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, and the decision to have it host matches in the 2011 World Cup raised eyebrows since the region has never been much of a cricket centre.
The ground, built near the village of Sooriyawewa, is part of a massive development drive, including construction of a new port and international airport, in the province, which has traditionally been one of most under-nourished regions of Sri Lanka.
The venue
The stadium is a 35,000-seater and the playing area is claimed to be the biggest in the world (130m from stumps to the end of the outfield). The project, which cost about US$ 9m, left Sri Lanka cricket struggling financially, and the stadium was handed over to the army after the World Cup. It is named after the country's president, who hails from the district, and the idea of building it was initially proposed by his son Namal Rajapaksa's youth organisation Tharunyata Hetak. The venue has hosted eight international matches since February 2011 and gets three more during the World Twenty20.
The stadium is a 35,000-seater and the playing area is claimed to be the biggest in the world (130m from stumps to the end of the outfield). The project, which cost about US$ 9m, left Sri Lanka cricket struggling financially, and the stadium was handed over to the army after the World Cup. It is named after the country's president, who hails from the district, and the idea of building it was initially proposed by his son Namal Rajapaksa's youth organisation Tharunyata Hetak. The venue has hosted eight international matches since February 2011 and gets three more during the World Twenty20.
Visiting fans have the opportunity to sample several tourist attractions in the region, including the Yala and Bundala national parks, the pilgrimage site of Kataragama, and to scuba-dive in Tangalle. One worry for them, though, is the availability of hotel rooms, since there are hardly any quality hotels near the stadium.