Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has announced plans to push for the development of an A-grade cricket stadium in Thambuttegama, aiming to elevate the sporting infrastructure in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province.
Speaking at a recent public meeting, the minister noted that regions like Anuradhapura often receive facilities later than urban centers like Colombo, particularly in sports.
“Cricket came to Colombo early, but reached Anuradhapura much later,” he remarked, highlighting the need for equal sporting opportunities across the island.
Samarasinghe revealed that the proposal to upgrade the Thambuttegama stadium was made following a direct request from President Anura Dissanayake.
He assured the public that the government is committed to ensuring districts like Anuradhapura receive sports facilities on par with the capital.
“We want to see players from Anuradhapura—the land of giants—launching giant sixes and earning their place on the national cricket team,” he said.
