England Team to Play at Dambulla

England's forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka Feb/March 2001 will be followed with great interest, both by Sr Lankan and overseas cricket fans.

The itinerary for the tour has still not been finalised but it has been decided by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) to play the second test match at the islands newest venue: Dambulla. Dambulla will become the 8th Test ground in Sri Lanka.

Thilanga Sumathipala (BCCSL President) spoke to CricInfo and said: "work is going at a tremendous pace and the 2nd Test against England will be played on this ground. The stadium in Dambulla is to be constructed at a cost of some 800 million rupees and will possess the latest facilities for staging international cricket. The first stage of the project has been estimated to cost 150 million rupees. The land, which belonged to Rangriri Dambulu Rajamaha Viharaya, was handed over to the cricket board last month at the Asgiri Maha Vihare in Kandy."

The project was started after a proposal made by Thilanga Sumathipala two years ago. Dambulla has the advantage of having very little rainfall throughout the year. With Sri Lanka being a relatively wet country such climatic conditions will safeguard television and sponsorship revenues.

The cricket stadium will boost development in the region and provide employment to some 200 people in the area. The land on which the ground is to be built belongs to the historic cave temple in Dambulla.

The hotels around Dambulla cricket ground can also expect a boost to business, as tourists and cricket fans come to watch the English team. With its beautiful lake, abundant wildlife and proximity to the Sirigiriya Rock Fortress it is set to become a popular place to relax and watch cricket.