Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) this week unveiled a modern eight-lane swimming pool at its National High Performance Centre (NHPC) in Colombo, marking a major milestone in the country’s cricket development infrastructure. Located at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium Complex, the new facility was officially opened by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent figures in Sri Lankan cricket, including national team coaches Sanath Jayasuriya and Rumesh Ratnayake, as well as women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu. The addition of the pool is expected to significantly boost player recovery and training capabilities, particularly for fast bowlers.
Swimming is widely recognised in sports medicine as a vital tool for low-impact conditioning and injury prevention. The new pool features a variable depth design ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 metres, allowing tailored recovery and training sessions—especially useful for fast bowlers following intense spells.
The pool complements the NHPC’s existing world-class facilities, which already include an international-standard ground, a high-tech gymnasium, and a performance analysis centre. Phase two of the development will add further recovery amenities such as an ice bath and jacuzzi.
With this investment, Sri Lanka aligns itself with top-tier cricketing nations like Australia and England, which have long incorporated aquatic recovery into their high-performance training systems.
