Jungle shrines and wild elephants

Hambantota is a long journey from my home, now in Colombo, and is also very different from the capital. It's usually hot. The climate is dry compared to the more humid parts of Sri Lanka, and the region is still quiet and calm, not far from the wild sandy beaches of Tangalle on the southeast coast. The national parks of Bundala and Yala, which people visit to see leopards and elephants, are nearby as well.

The region was hit hard by the tsunami, but visiting the central town of Hambantota now is a bit like taking a look into Sri Lanka's future. The new cricket stadium is just one part of the new developments aimed at building Hambantota as a new second city to Colombo - with a new port and an international airport on the way. A new branch of a highway is being built to run from Colombo to Hambantota, which I am looking forward to, because it will cut down on our travelling time for matches. Hambantota is a place for Sri Lanka's future.

I will never forget the first time I travelled from my childhood home on the west coast as a ten-year-old for the famous Kataragama festival. People from all religions, across Sri Lanka, travel to the temple there to celebrate and worship together with prayers and dancing. It's certainly a fun and special experience. Visit the sacred Kataragama jungle shrine, if you get the chance. You'll also get to see the famous Maligawila Buddha statue and the Buduruwagala ancient rock sculptures nearby.

A must try for visitors is the very good local yoghurt with honey.

Hambantota doesn't have too many hotels, so sometimes the Sri Lanka team stays in smaller hotels in the surrounding areas. To a visitor to the Hambantota region, I would recommend trips to the historical town of Tissa. You'll see lotus-filled lakes, paddy fields, large dagobas and temples.

It's also a great place for wildlife lovers. The Buttala foothills are known for some of the best national parks in the country, especially Udawalawe, a great place to see wild elephants, which sometimes even wander outside the park. You can also visit the elephant orphanage there.

The stadium in Hambantota opened only last year for the 2011 World Cup. The ground is very large, still brand new, and set in a wild, open landscape outside the town. The view from high up in the stands, looking down at the cricket and the scenery outside, is fantastic.