Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today inaugurated construction of the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium at Mandaitivu Island, describing it as a landmark initiative to strengthen national unity through sport.
The President said cricket has carried Sri Lanka’s pride to the world and stressed that the game holds a unique power to bring people together beyond divisions. He expressed hope that one day a national team representing Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim youth would be cheered on by fans of every community seated together in the same stadium.
The Jaffna International Cricket Stadium is to be built in four phases, with a final capacity of 40,000 spectators and facilities for day-night matches. It will be Sri Lanka’s fifth venue capable of hosting international cricket.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, provincial leaders, Sri Lanka Cricket officials and school cricketers from Jaffna.
