Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ In a major development aimed at promoting sports and unity in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, legendary cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya has formally requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assist in constructing an international cricket stadium in Jaffna. The proposal was presented during a meeting in Colombo held as part of Prime Minister Modi’s recent state visit to Sri Lanka, where several members of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team came together to welcome the Indian leader. During the meeting, Sanath Jayasuriya, the current head coach of the Sri Lankan national cricket team, emphasized the importance of the initiative, pointing to the rich cricketing talent in Jaffna and the pressing need for proper infrastructure to support their growth.
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Jayasuriya spoke of the wealth of cricket talent in Jaffna and shared that he had appealed to the Honorable Prime Minister for support in developing a facility in the region. According to him, the Prime Minister responded positively, assuring that he would consult his team and get back with a decision soon. Additionally, the proposal to build an international cricket stadium in Jaffna is further underscored by the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India. However, Sri Lanka continues to face economic challenges, making large-scale infrastructure projects difficult to fund domestically. Jayasuriya recognized the existing challenges but highlighted how impactful India’s involvement could be in moving the initiative forward.
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Jayasurya also highlighted the challenges Sri Lanka faces in making such a project a reality, noting that both the country and the Sri Lanka Cricket Board have limited capacity to take it forward on their own. To truly elevate the effort, he stressed the importance of building stronger ties with international players, an area where India’s support could be particularly valuable. While cricket enjoys immense popularity across Sri Lanka, the northern region, especially Jaffna, has historically lacked proper facilities. Though several Tamil players, including the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, have represented the national team, Jaffna does not yet feature a team in Sri Lanka’s first-class cricket circuit.
Jayasuriya explained the deeper significance of developing sports infrastructure in Jaffna, which was heavily affected by the country’s three-decade-long civil conflict. He pointed out that while there are established stadiums in the southern parts of the country like Colombo, Hambantota, Dambulla, and Pallekele, the north still lacks such facilities. Reflecting on the decades-long conflict that once divided the nation, he emphasized the importance of fostering unity between the north and south now that peace has been restored, and he believes sport offers a powerful way to bridge this divide. Building an international cricket stadium in Jaffna, he believes, would foster unity, bridge regional divides, and uplift communities that have long felt marginalized. “They won’t feel left behind,” he added.
Jayasuriya’s appeal marks the first time he has publicly advocated for such a project. He shared that the idea of an international stadium in Jaffna had come to him for the first time recently, prompting him to propose it, an initiative he hopes might gain momentum with Modi’s backing. In previous years, other international players have helped fund cricket infrastructure in Sri Lanka, such as China’s contribution to the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. Now, all eyes are on India’s response to this heartfelt request.
